Comparing The Child Welfare System And Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children

The Child Welfare System and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Over the last several years it’s become apparent that the child welfare system and sexual exploited children also known as human trafficking victims have been linked together across the United States. Some of our countries most vulnerable children are being targeted, according to the article The Intersection of the Child Welfare System with the Commercial Sexual exploitation of Children written by K.Walker, J.D. and F. Quraishi, J.D. Children with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, children with a previous history of abuse are all vulnerable to be human trafficked. All of these children are commonly seen in the welfare system as well. Based on research there are several reasons for this. One being lack of family support, two

The trauma these children have experienced makes them more vulnerable to predators. The same characteristics that made them vulnerable the first time to be placed in the welfare system are the someone’s that will make them vulnerable again to other predators such as pimps/traffickers. This putting them into a life of more abuse and trauma. Between 50-98% of identified child victims of sexual exploitation have been in the welfare system previously.
Family Structure
Children become victims based on several things. The first being the lack of family structure, single parent homes, blended families where the parents have remarried. Next no adult support and putting them back into homes that are still unstable causing them to run away. Thinking the child is the problem instead of the parent. Lastly the lack of the welfare systems communication between agencies. These are the things predators look for when choosing their victim. Predators become that missing piece in the child’s life. Showing them the love and attention the child is craving.