Although human trafficking can happen to anyone in any community, youth may be particularly susceptible to the major forms of trafficking—labor and sex trafficking—due to risk factors such as history of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported having over 9,200 trafficking cases; 2,535 of them involving minors. Traffickers often target vulnerable individuals, including victims of violence or those lacking strong support networks such as runaway and homeless youth.

Let’s work together to support at-risk youth, build relationships that foster trust, and create safe spaces to help them thrive.

Ways to Get Involved:

• Check out our resources to learn how to identify signs of youth who have experienced or are at risk of human trafficking and discover ways to support them.
• Register for and explore the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training & Technical Assistance Center’s (RHYTTAC’s) eLearning platform to access training modules focused on human trafficking.
• View RHYTTAC’s tip sheet to learn how to identify youth at risk of or experiencing human trafficking in runaway and homeless youth settings.
• Learn how to start the conversation about human trafficking with youth with the Blue Campaign.
• Encourage youth to reach out if they need help: National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888 or text 233733).