Child Trafficking Prevention Education Rule Update
Have you heard? The MBF team met with staff at the Florida Department of Education in early November to clarify the requirements of the Child Trafficking Prevention Education Rule. According to FLDOE, schools and districts may use any program to meet the Rule as long as it addresses the required topics. As such, you may continue to use the MBF Child Safety Matters® and MBF Teen Safety Matters® programs as they do meet the requirements!
What is Child Human Trafficking and what does it have to do with public schools?
Human Trafficking, under both federal and Florida law, is defined as the transporting, soliciting, recruiting, harboring, providing or obtaining of another person for transport; for the purposes of forced labor, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation using force, fraud and/or coercion. Polyvictimization research shows when a victim suffers from multiple types of victimization or trauma, they’re at higher risk to other victimizations.
Many schools are recognizing the importance of including this type of education as trafficking cases are steadily rising. In fact, the National Trafficking Hotline receives the third highest number of reports from Florida, so this is an especially important rule. Traffickers often target children with a history of sexual abuse, dating violence, low self-esteem and minimal social support. Thus, in addition to educating students about trafficking directly, by using MBF Prevention Education Programs you are helping to prevent the other types of victimization and trauma that often lead to trafficking. Schools are often a safe haven for students and this type of prevention education is imperative for overall student success.
A Bit More About Trauma
Trafficking is just one type of trauma experienced by students. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network reports that 1 out of every 4 students will experience some sort of trauma during their school years. Trauma affects the way students feel, think, learn and behave. It can influence self-perception, interrupt sleep, create fear and impact self-esteem. Trauma includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical crises
- Accidents or injuries (house fire or car collision)
- Bullying or harassment
- Family separation (incarceration, divorce, deployment)
- Natural disaster
- Abuse (emotional, physical or sexual)
- Neglect
- Observation of domestic, community or school violence
- Substance abuse
- Mental illness
- Instability
- Poverty/Homelessness
- Refugee or undocumented status
For more information about trauma and additional
resources for educators, visit www.NCTSN.org.
|