Prince William County Public Schools

Program History:

2013: Received an initial grant from the Potomac Health Foundation

2016: Program was funded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

2018: PWCS fully funded the program and a human trafficking prevention specialist position. 

PWCS Human Trafficking Prevention Program Data:

Over 47,193 high school students have participated in an interactive 90-minute lesson taught in ninth grade Health and PE programs since the inception of the program in 2013. Overall, students consistently demonstrated large gains (56-72%) in perceived knowledge about human trafficking based on pre/post testing.

Key Highlights:

• Presented for the U.S. Department of Education, "The Identification and Support of Students Affected by Human Trafficking (2020).
• Presented to PWC Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judges (2020).
• Awarded the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award (2019).
• Presented to the Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Prevention (2019).
• Presented to the Virginia State Delegates about human trafficking within schools (2018).
• Presented for the INOVA Symposium, "Child Trafficking: The Hidden Crime" (2018).
• Invited to present to the Virginia State Delegate Crime Commission (2018).
• Participated in the development of statewide training guidelines for human trafficking with the Virginia Department of Education (2017).
• Recipient of the Champions for Children Award from PWCS (2017).
• Presented at the Virginia Association of School Nurses Conference (2016 and 2017).
• Presented at Virginia Commonwealth University (2016).
• Presented at "Sex Trafficking of Minors in America's Schools: Why Prevention Education Is Necessary" Summit (2016).
• Recipient of the Best Practice: Innovation Award from Potomac Health Foundation (2015).
• Presented at the National Educators Against Trafficking Conference (2014).
• Partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• Recipient of the Allies in Prevention Award for Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern VA (SCAN).
• The first school jurisdiction in the United States to provide a comprehensive school-based program.
• In partnership with PWCPD and DHS, participated in recovering and coordinating victim services for multiple endangered runaway students from PWCS, and students involved in several international labor trafficking rings.
• Invited to Capitol Hill twice. 

This project was supported by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) grant #19-C3440JJ15, with funds made available to the Commonwealth of Virginia from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.

Education

Ninth-grade high school students participate in an interactive 90-minute interactive lesson on human trafficking, conducted in the Health and PE classrooms as part of the Family Life Education (FLE) program. The FLE program, designed for K-10th grade students, equips them with the knowledge and skills to make informed, responsible decisions regarding growth and development, communication and relationships, and emotional and social health. Our trained Health and Physical Education teachers deliver this lesson to all ninth-grade students across 13 schools, including our non-traditional school. The lesson covers both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, with pre- and post-tests administered to track knowledge increase.

Identification

In addition to this presentation and knowledge check, students are given the opportunity to meet with their school-based social worker if they have any concerns.

When school social workers interview and assess students who come forward, they may contact the families to address any issues or concerns. Depending on the student's needs, appropriate partnerships may be established. This could involve a referral to the Comprehensive Child Study (CCS) social workers within Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), who will lead in assessing and developing individualized service plans. These social workers can secure funding and provide access to comprehensive counseling supports.

There is a partnership with the Children's Services Act (CSA) for service funding, and eligibility is determined in collaboration with the Family Assessment Planning Team (FAPT). If students have been identified as being trafficked, collaboration with law enforcement and qualified mental health providers ensures they receive full support. School social workers, in collaboration with Human Trafficking Prevention Specialists, assess the individual needs of impacted students and provide school-based supports and resources.

The human trafficking prevention specialists partner with CSA and FAPT, in collaboration with PWCS CCS, to develop individualized service plans for affected students. PWCS partners with Greater Prince William, the Human Trafficking Task Force, the Juvenile Court Services Unit, the Gang Intervention and Response Team (G.R.I.T), and state and federal agencies. Monthly meetings are held for team collaboration.

The Human Trafficking Specialist will provide continuous monitoring of student and family progress with services and maintain communication to ensure needs are being met throughout their time with PWCS. Resources include referral to the CCS Department and FAPT for medical care, mental health care, and branding removal services. Referral to the Prince William County Multi-Disciplinary Team ensures case collaboration with state, federal, and local agencies.

Human Trafficking Prevention Specialists collaborate with various organizations and agencies to provide comprehensive services and raise awareness about human trafficking. Their key activities include:

Collaboration and Communication

• Work with the Greater Prince William Human Trafficking Task Force, Juvenile Court Services Unit, Gang Intervention and Response Team (G.R.I.T), and various state and federal agencies.
• Maintain communication with law enforcement departments, including the habitual runaway detective, to provide comprehensive wrap-around services.
• Serve as Co-Chair of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and attend monthly meetings with G.R.I.T and the Greater Prince William Human Trafficking Task Force.

Education and Awareness

• Conduct presentations for PWCS staff and external agencies to raise awareness and educate stakeholders about human trafficking prevention.
• Participate in webinars to share insights on how PWCS addresses human trafficking, providing valuable information to other agencies and fostering a collaborative approach.

Data Collection and Collaboration

• Collaborate with other jurisdictions on data collection to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated effort in understanding and preventing human trafficking.
• These activities are integral to building a network of informed and proactive community members dedicated to combating human trafficking.

Talk to Your Child About Human Trafficking

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking involves anyone under the age of 18 being paid or given something of value in exchange for a commercial sex act. This typically involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion. A commercial sex act can include:

• Dancing in night clubs
• Being forced to take inappropriate photos or videos
• Being forced to engage in sexual activities with others

Traffickers often trick victims into believing they are in a romantic relationship or that they will obtain a legitimate, well-paying job. They frequently initiate contact through social media, pretending to be close in age and wanting to be friends.

Labor Trafficking

Labor trafficking occurs when a person is forced to work against their will to make money for others. Victims often work under poor conditions with little to no pay. Industries and jobs commonly involved in labor trafficking include:

• Restaurants
• Nail salons
• Construction
• Maid services
• Nanny/au pair services

What to Look For

Here are common signs that someone you know or love may be experiencing human trafficking:

• Missing school or activities without notice and/or running away from home
• Talking about an older boyfriend or girlfriend
• Hanging out with older people and trying to keep them a secret
• Possession of expensive gifts that they did not purchase
• Sudden change in dress or appearance
• Unusual new tattoo
• New cell phone or second cell phone
• Sudden change in behavior
• Promiscuous behavior either in person or on social media
• Signs of physical abuse
• Sexually transmitted disease
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Gang affiliation

Strategies to Protect Yourself

Traffickers are highly skilled, manipulative, and resourceful. They know exactly what to say to get you to do what they want. Here are some tips to help protect yourself:

Online

Limit the information you share and only friend or talk to people you know personally.

In Public

Be aware of your environment. If someone seems to always be around where you like to hang out, be cautious of that person. If they seem interested in things they shouldn’t know about without directly knowing you, it’s often a red flag.

Trust Your Gut

If you have a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach or the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, this could be your body signaling you about potentially dangerous people or situations.

Identify Trusted Adults

Confide in trusted adults if you see anything suspicious. This can be a parent, family member, social worker, counselor, teacher, coach, or any school employee you trust.

Be Aware and Recognize the Signs

Look out for signs such as promises, isolation, and abuse.

• Action in Community Through Service (ACTS ) Sexual Assault Program: 24/7 hotline 703-497-1192.
• Human Trafficking – Polaris 
• Mental Health Telehealth Services for Students (Hazel Health)
• Child Sex Trafficking – National Center on Missing and Exploited Children
• Human Trafficking Webinar Series – National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments
• Stopping Sextortion – NetSmartz^®