CHILD TRAFFICKING
IN OHIO
A Guide for Parents
ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO
HAVE OPEN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT
THE DANGERS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Human Trafficking: it’s a serious issue that deserves a
lot of attention, especially for parents with young children.
Human trafficking is too big to simply sweep under the rug,
particularly in Ohio, and one of the best ways to prevent it is
through education and awareness. Over the past few years,
trainings and webinars designed specifically for police officers,
first responders, social workers, and teachers, but not many
resources exist for parents who want to talk to their children
about the risks of becoming a victim of human trafficking.
Voices encourages parents to have an open discussion with
their children about the dangers of human trafficking by
teaching them to identify risky situations and ways to stay safe.
Human Trafficking Basics
Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that entraps
more than 1,000 children in Ohio each year, and lures over
3,000 more. It is very real and could be happening right now in
your town. Children as young as 12 years old are forced into
this modern-day slavery.1 Traffickers turn to online message
boards, social media websites, telephone chat lines, shopping
centers, and other public places to recruit potential victims.
Often, traffickers will use older girls to recruit other females first
by befriending them, and then turning them over to a pimp. It is
important for parents to be able to recognize the warning signs
so that they can prevent traffickers from coercing their children.
According to the Ohio Human Trafficking Commission, one
of the most common red flags to look for in your community
is young women accompanied by much older males. This is
especially a red flag at hotels, motels, and truck stops—places
where young women typically wouldn’t be by themselves.2
These girls may appear to be fearful or overly submissive to the
men they are with. Other indicators include the appearance
of physical and/or sexual abuse, malnourishment, anxiety,
depression, tension, and paranoia. Victims of human trafficking
are often not allowed to speak for themselves when asked a
question, and will often give scripted or rehearsed answers to
We recognize that legislation can only go so far, and that task
forces can’t single-handedly solve the problem either. Parents
also have to meet the responsibility of keeping their children
safe from predators—including via the Internet. This guide
gathers information from experts in the field and includes tips
on how to communicate with children, warning signs to look
for, and steps you can take with your family to help prevent
human trafficking in your neighborhood and community.
TEACH KIDS HOW TO
IDENTIFY RISKY SITUATIONS.
casual questions. Pimps will typically prohibit their victims from
keeping many personal possessions, controlling their money
and identification documents. Other signs of human trafficking
include sleeping bags or cots at a business where very young
workers (under 15 years of age) appear to be working for a
family business. Throughout Ohio, a number of nail salons have
been identified where victims of trafficking have been found;
other establishments may operate other the guise of massage
parlors, escort services, modeling studios, adult bookstores,
bars, and strip clubs.
If you believe you’ve identified a potential victim of human
trafficking, alert law enforcement immediately by calling 911.
Other resources include the National Human Trafficking
Resource Center, a national, 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual
hotline at 1-888-3737-888. Call to report tips, connect with
services in your community, request trainings and general
information. It’s imperative to be mindful of your own safety
and the safety of the victim when reporting to law enforcement.
Traffickers may be armed and dangerous, and there’s no way
to predict how they might retaliate if you attempt to save a
victim yourself.
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CHILD TRAFFICKING
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Target, Trick, Traumatize

Traffickers target vulnerable children and lure them into an
underground world of prostitution and sexual exploitation
through the use of psychological manipulation, drugs, and even
violence.3 These perpetrators are consumed by monetary
gain and children are seen as renewable commodities that
can be sold over and over again—even within the same night.
In choosing their victims, traffickers look for runaways or
vulnerable children with emotional and/or physical needs that
are not being met at home. They use this to their advantage by
forming an intense emotional bond with their victims, tricking
children into feeling loved and cared for before they manipulate
the relationship to their benefit. Pimps quickly establish their
dominance by buying lavish gifts and deceptively providing a
seemingly safe home environment in order to “break down
a victim’s natural resistance and suspicion.”4 Autonomy is
completely stripped away, and every need—from clothing to
shelter and money to food—is supplied solely by the trafficker.
Children are then bound by an impenetrable “trauma bond,”
even in the face of physical threats to their safety. Pimps are
known for using coercion to “virtually enslave their victims.”5
It’s not uncommon for victims to be controlled by threats of
violence against their family, the use of pornographic images
taken and used as blackmail against them, verbal abuse, and
even gang-rapes. This psychological manipulation through
the use of fear leaves children trapped and powerless against
perpetrators, and leads to long-term mental health issues
that require intense counseling and treatment. Many children
who have been sexually exploited and controlled via trauma
bonds suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and
experience symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia,
irritability, flashbacks, emotional numbing, and hyper-alertness.6

How to Keep
Your Children Safe
What can you do to protect your children? The most important
thing is to create a family environment where your children
CHILD VICTIMS ARE
feel comfortable talking to you openly. Be sure to explain to
them the dangers of human trafficking, and teach them that
OFTEN RECRUITED
they should alert you when they come across any potentially
risky situation. Know which friends your children interact with,
BY AN OLDER
and whether your child should trust them. More importantly,
take the time to get to know their parents and know where
FEMALE WHO FIRST
they live. Always have a home or cell phone number for their
parents, and confirm ahead of time that the children will
PRESENTS HERSELF
be supervised. Child victims of human trafficking are often
recruited by an older female who first presents herself as a
AS A FRIEND.
friend. Getting to know who your children spend their time
with is a crucial step in protecting their safety.

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CHILD TRAFFICKING
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
From Instant Message to Instant Nightmare:
Safety Practices on the Internet 7
Unfortunately, many child trafficking victims are also recruited
via the Internet. Online chat rooms, social media pages,
blogs, and solicitation websites such as Craigslist can go from
friendly to hostile in a matter of seconds. All it takes is one
instant message to lure your child into an underground world
of prostitution and sexual exploitation. Educate your children
about online safety, and do the research yourself to understand
how certain information-sharing websites and apps works.
Have a discussion about at what age it’s appropriate for
your children to create profiles on social media websites.
Set clear boundaries about what personal information
(including photographs) should not be shared and explain
to them why making certain information public leaves them
vulnerable to strangers.
Conversation Starters
Talking to your children about the dangers of human trafficking
can sound intimidating, but there are easy ways to start this
dialogue. For young children, start with the basics by asking,
“What is your full name?” and “Can you tell me our home
address and phone number?” This simple step is incredibly
important if a young child is ever lost or gets separated from
his/her parents. Next, make sure your children know your cell
phone and work number. Share with them the number for your
local police, poison control, and any other medical services that
you deem necessary for emergency situations. Teach children
when to call 911, and identify three trusted adults they can call
if they feel scared or are in an emergency. Write down all of this
information and keep it someplace where your children can
access it easily (such as on the refrigerator).
As children become older, practice “what-if” situations, and
ask children how they would respond to certain situations such
as getting lost at a shopping mall, or what to do if someone
knocks on the door while they’re home alone. Take the time
to walk or drive the route your child takes to and from school
or the bus stop, and point out safe places they can go to if
they feel scared along the way. Encourage your children to
Take the necessary steps to monitor which sites your children
visit by using parental controls to check the Internet history, and
flag any that you consider inappropriate. Have your children
write down their screen/user names and passwords, and keep
these in a safe area where you can access them in case of an
emergency. One easy way to keep tabs on your children’s
online activity is by restricting use of a computer to the living
room, kitchen, or other open areas in the house where family
members are present rather than in the bedroom. Finally, make
sure your children know that if someone online asks them
a question that they don’t feel comfortable answering they
should not feel forced to comply. Encourage your children to
speak up and come to you in cases where they feel coerced to
participate in any online conversations.
walk with a friend whenever possible, and be sure to explain
that they should never, under any circumstance, accept a
ride from strangers. Finally, have a discussion about what you
children should/shouldn’t do if approached by a stranger who
asked for help, or touched them in any way that made them
feel uncomfortable. Teach them that if anyone tries to grab
them, that they should resist by kicking and screaming, and
drawing attention from others. Help your children identify law
enforcement officials and security guards as trusted adults that
they can ask for help in case they get lost in public places.
For teenagers, have an open dialogue about when it’s
appropriate to create a profile on social media websites, and
what personal information is safe to make public. Set a clear
expectation of the kinds of photos and comments that are
improper, and explain the consequences if school officials,
college admissions offices, or future employers discover them.
Finally, set an appropriate curfew for your children, and let
them know what steps to take in case they are running late.
PRACTICE “WHAT IF” SITUATIONS.
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CHILD TRAFFICKING
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Child Identification
In the unlikely situation that your child is reported missing,
there are steps you can take beforehand to help law
enforcement officials identify him/her. Request a “Child ID Kit”
from the National Child Identification Program or the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at
www.childidprogram.com/the-id-kit. Take the time to fill
out personal information such as physical and distinguishing
characteristics of your child (scars, birthmarks, etc.). Include
a current photo that’s updated on a yearly basis and a copy of
your child’s fingerprints—this is especially important because
as children grow and their physical appearances change, their
fingerprints are unique for life.

JUST TALK ABOUT IT.

Human trafficking is a serious issue, but there are ways to talk about it with
your children that can help your family develop protocols and procedures for
emergency situations. Just like schools and law enforcement, parents also have
a responsibility to protect their children from predators. One of the best ways
to prevent human trafficking from happening in your community is through
education and awareness.

We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you discuss the dangers posed
by human trafficking with your children.

1. Ohio Human Trafficking Commission: “Fact Sheet for Child Victims of Human Trafficking.”
2. Ohio Human Trafficking Commission:
www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Victims/Human-Trafficking-Commission.
3. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: “Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Fact Sheet,” 2010.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Florida Office of the Attorney General: “Attorney General Pam Bondi Launches
‘From Instant Message to Instant Nightmare’ Initiative to Help Parents Protect Children from Sex Trafficking,” 27 Sept. 2013.