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Human Trafficking

new Anti-Human Trafficking Webinars for School Staff 2023-2024

  • ‘It Happens Here’ Facilitation Guide & Lessons Training for School Staff and Other Professionals Supporting Anti-Trafficking
  • Supporting Boys Who’ve Been Exploited
  • App to Exploitation

2023-2024 Human Trafficking Trainings - Dates, Times, and Registration

Overview

It is important for all school staff to increase their knowledge about human trafficking, to learn to spot the signs of trafficking, and to take action in supporting students.

Human trafficking is the misuse of other people. This often happens for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Human trafficking occurs throughout Wisconsin, including rural, urban, and suburban areas.

Human traffickers often recruit vulnerable youth with force or deception. They may exploit youth through fraud, abuse of power, control, violence, or physical abduction. They may also threaten the youth or their family. Economic pressure can make a person more vulnerable to being trafficked.Trafficking can happen to anyone of all sexes, genders, races, and economic backgrounds; though some individuals are in a higher risk group. Many youth who are being trafficked do not see themselves as victims. They may not realize they are being trafficked.

Wisconsin school staff can help prevent and respond to trafficking by learning more about the topic, in addition to implementing such best practices as trauma sensitive schools, social and emotional learning, culturally responsive practices, resilience building, fostering relationships, and encouraging a welcoming inclusive environment for all students. The following are a few resources to help you get started.

Keep in mind that suspicions of child sex trafficking must be reported to CPS or law enforcement by mandated reporters, including all school staff. For additional information on reporting sex trafficking and using the Exploitation Indictor and Response Guide, please review the DPI Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect Online Learning Modules found here

Building Understanding of Adults

Video and Online Learning Modules:

Fact Sheets, Guides, Written Resources:

Educating Youth

  • DPI/DCF Youth Lessons (Grades 7-12)- Building Knowledge and Skills to Raise Awareness and Respond to Human Sex Trafficking
    • Guide for Facilitation of Youth Lessons - DPI and DCF have collaborated to create a guide for facilitating lessons to youth geared towards grades 7-12. The lessons included in this unit provide an adult facilitator information and lesson plans to accompany a short documentary video series and instruct students in the topic of human trafficking with a focus on sex trafficking. Included are short videos with individuals in Wisconsin who have shared their true stories for the purpose of education and prevention. This guide provides information to help you successfully deliver this unit of instruction.
    • Free Training - To access the guide and facilitator materials, school staff and community partners participate in a free training offered through the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools (WISH) Center. The training is geared towards pupil service staff, community providers of sexual assault prevention and response, and other school staff who have some training and experience handling difficult topics, handling student disclosures, and the ability to assess risk and safety concerns. School staff and professionals in the community are encouraged to attend training together to collaborate on lesson delivery for students. Participants will be able to lead lessons for students grades 7-12 to help them understand what human trafficking is, some of the dynamics involved, and to recognize warning signs and unsafe situations, how to get help, and where to find additional resources. View the training dates and registration for 21-22. If you are unable to attend a training, yet would like access to the lessons, please contact julie.incitti@dpi.wi.gov.
  • Some, but not all, available curriculum options (resources are not endorsed by DPI and are provided as examples for consideration):
  • National Human Trafficking Resource Center including student toolkit

Support Youth

Mandated Reporting of Sex Trafficking

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) does not endorse any specific companies or materials, and the included resources are by no means the only materials available. This list is provided to encourage schools to consider their resources and efforts in the following areas as a way to approach reducing and responding to sexual violence in schools.