Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/994766
do you need?" or telling a student repeatedly, "I'm here for you." Building trust takes time — and sometimes numerous outreach attempts — before a student con- fides to a caring adult that they are being victimized. Educators, as mandated reporters, must share that information with higher-ups, even if a student begs them not to tell. "What you don't want to do is be judgmental or ask a student to go into details," says Hoffman. "Be a good listener. If you do report that a student is being victimized, tell the student that they may not understand what's hap- pening now, but you are acting in their best interests and trying to help them." Prevention is key To prevent students from becoming prey, educators can integrate prevention into health and AVID lessons or even history, since human trafficking is modern-day slav- ery. When seeking relevant guest speakers, schools should choose those with a service provider background who know appropriate terminology and strive to create a safe environment. Online curriculum from PROTECT, a human traf- ficking prevention education program developed by 3Strands Global and two other nonprofits in partner- ship with the California Department of Education and others, is grade-level specific. Fifth-graders learn about safe people and safe choices, are taught to listen to their "inner voice" if a situation is uncomfortable, and develop personal and online boundaries. Seventh- graders are encouraged to see themselves as worthy of respect, love and care. Ninth-graders receive an overview of human trafficking including warning signs and recruiting tactics, learn how the media and technol- ogy influence and desensitize exploitation, and are taught strategies to keep themselves safe. "It's important to help students develop self-confidence, understand how to build healthy relationships, and identify a predator," says Boyd-Kamei. "Dating abuse can be a fore- runner to sex trafficking. e media sometimes glamorizes the lifestyle, and girls want to make a lot of money. But when students understand it is really modern-day slavery, they don't find it so alluring." Marilyn Wolfson, a health teacher at Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, brought Journey Out's Powell into her classroom as a guest speaker. Most students had never dis- cussed the topic with their parents before and knew little about dangers that could be lurking. "Giving them this information may be saving their lives," says Wolfson, United Teachers Los Angeles. "ey should know how to respond if they are approached. I don't want them to be paranoid, but they need to be aware that when someone offers them money and jewelry, it could get them into a world of trouble. "Teaching students about the dangers of human trafficking is as important as teaching them CPR. You hope they never have to use it, but it's something they should know." " Teaching students about the dangers of human trafficking is as important as teaching them CPR. You hope they never have to use it, but it's something they should know." — Marilyn Wolfson, United Teachers Los Angeles RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS • Trafficking Hotline — 24-hour confi- dential help, 888-373-7888 • Text "HELP" or "INFO" to BeFree (233733) • Protectnow.org • 3strandsglobalfoundation.org 27 J U N E / J U L Y 2 018 Marilyn Wolfson