765 - Unmasking the Invisible: High School Youth Leaders Guide Peers and Physicians in Human Trafficking Awareness

Publication Number: 765.6908

Karissa Garza, Fresno High school, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, CA, United States; Arriana E. Bertoldi, Fresno High School, Fresno, CA, United States; Harriet G. Van Houten, Fresno Unified District, Fresno, CA, United States; Kelly Colwell-walker, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, CA, United States; Renee Kinman, UCSF Fresno, Fresno, CA, United States

Background: Human trafficking is the world’s second largest and fastest-growing criminal industry, with victims as young as 12 entering a life with an average expectancy of just seven years. Yet its victims are often “hidden in plain sight,” appearing to live normal lives and interacting regularly with others while trauma and fear prevent them from seeking help. Adolescents are especially vulnerable, often targeted by traffickers who exploit marginalized communities, while healthcare providers typically lack training in identifying trafficking victims.

Objective: Our high school youth leaders aimed to tackle this issue by educating their peers, high school faculty, and healthcare professionals on human trafficking's prevalence, how traffickers target teens, and key warning signs to recognize.

Design/Methods: Using a Kahoot survey, we simultaneously educated and assessed our peers' knowledge of human trafficking. We added the national trafficking hotline to our school’s communication app and created an art installation project in the front of our school using sand from the Red Sand Project to visibly raise awareness about this crime. We expanded our outreach by completing the Love 146 teen human trafficking curriculum, gave a didactic session on this topic to UCSF Fresno pediatric residents, and facilitated a workshop for adolescent healthcare professionals at the national adolescent society meeting. Badge cards listing warning signs were provided for all health care professionals.

Results: Among 154 surveyed students, only 70% identified sex trafficking as the primary form of teen trafficking in the U.S., while 89% acknowledged that anyone could fall victim to it. Just 40% recognized the high-risk groups most likely to be trafficked, and only 57% could identify warning signs that a peer might be targeted or groomed. Gift-giving as a luring tactic was recognized by 87%, while 80% understood that traffickers could be family members. Additionally, 73% correctly identified California as the state with the highest trafficking rates, 86% knew that most trafficking starts online, and 77% expressed a desire to learn more about the issue.

Conclusion(s): Human trafficking is an increasingly prevalent form of modern-day slavery, making awareness of its warning signs essential for youth, educators, and healthcare professionals. As teen educators, we can play a unique and powerful role in raising awareness and enhancing recognition of trafficking within our communities. By equipping others with knowledge, we can disrupt this cycle and protect our peers from becoming part of a hidden crisis that robs them of their future.