Major Accomplishments (continued)
Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation
DFPS created the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Division (HTCE) works to strengthen compliance with federal and state mandates, develop best practices for preventing trafficking. It also works to improve DFPS’s ability to identify and report trafficking, as well as help recover victims and support them in restoring their lives. HTCE, a part of Child Protective Investigations, works with all DFPS programs to improve outcomes for victims of trafficking. The division also builds relationships with law enforcement and community leaders to develop and expand services for children who are victims of trafficking.
FY 2019 accomplishments include the following:
- More than 7,000 DFPS staff (7,159) completed human trafficking awareness training, bringing the total number of staff that have been trained to more than 14,000. All new Child Protective Investigations and Child Protective Services caseworkers also receive information about trafficking during professional development training.
- DFPS launched Light the Way to Freedom to End Human Trafficking: Sunday Prayers, an annual awareness campaign to unite communities of faith during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. DFPS also developed a flier called Five Ways Faith-Based Organizations Can Help in the Fight against Human Trafficking.
- DFPS hosted the Light the Way to Freedom to End Human Trafficking 2019 Summit, a statewide conference for DFPS staff, key partners, and stakeholders who help fight against the trafficking of the children and youth that DFPS serves. More than 850 people from across the state participated and collaborated on increasing awareness, prevention, identification, and supporting survivors to restore their lives and receive justice.
In March 2019, DFPS also implemented the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool and the Human Trafficking (HT) Response Protocol in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant, and Travis counties. The tool helps in detecting risk of sexual exploitation by prompting caseworkers to gather more information when they note certain problems or concerns. The HT protocol outlines the agency’s response when:
- Someone responsible for a child’s care is accused of trafficking the child.
- A case of trafficking involves children in DFPS conservatorship who are 12 years or older and have five or more placements.
- Children in DFPS conservatorship who are 10 years or older are missing or on runaway status.