Administration for Children's Services311Search all NYC.gov websites
Preventing Youth Trafficking
Resources for Professionals
What to Do and Who to Contact When You Identify a Trafficked Child
- NYC Human Trafficking Virtual Resource Fair
- ACS' Child Trafficking Prevention Awareness Campaign Materials
- For Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) Trainings
- CTDB e-Learning
- For All Other Trafficking Related Trainings
- About the ACS Office of Child Trafficking Prevention & Policy (OCTPP)
Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Trainings
The 2024 NYC Child Trafficking Prevention Conference
The Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy (OCTPP) has trained over 40,000 since its launch in 2015. Continuing its tradition of high quality awareness and skill focused trainings, in 2024 OCTPP will continue to offer three (3) virtual conferences, plus monthly Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) trainings and a variety of additional trafficking prevention related events. All conference workshops are free and wil be held through Microsoft Teams. Please note that CEUs and CLEs, and certificates are not available for these workshops, but attendance verification can be provided through email. Please email all questions to Traffickingtraining@acs.nyc.gov
For 2024:
- January: The NYC Child Trafficking Prevention Conference, which always begins on January 11th, Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
- April: The "April is Child Abuse Prevention Month" Spring Training Series.
- October: The "Back to School" Fall Training Series.
Next Available Trainings:
June 6th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm - Understanding Child Trafficking: A Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective
To understand trafficked children, you must first understand cognitive and social-emotional child development and the impact of trauma upon the developing psyche. This workshop will provide an extremely comprehensive view into the potential developmental etiology of child trafficking, beginning with cognitive development, infant attachment and behavioral learning influences. The attachment pattern developed between an infant and the primary caregiver can have extensive influence across the entire life cycle. The deficits and resultant needs that develop through early attachment can unconsciously impact upon subsequent relational and safety choices. This workshop will demonstrate how the development of certain infant attachment experiences can lead to subsequent juvenile trafficking vulnerability, and how traffickers fulfill the inherent social-emotional deficits to trauma bond with and exploit youth. The presentation will proceed to the impact of trauma, teen cognitive and social-emotional development and learning, relational influences, media impact (advertisements, social media influencers, music videos), recruitment techniques, gaslighting, trauma bonding, and red flags and language affiliated with the commercial sex industry. The workshop concludes with engagement tips for work with trafficked and traumatized youth. PowerPoint, video clips, and recent media cases will be utilized to facilitate learning. This proprietary workshop has been provided at multiple national and regional conferences.
Register - Save the email from Teams that you will receive after you register to click on the Join Event button on June 6th to enter the training.
May 30th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm – NYC's Child Welfare Trafficking Policy and Screening Children for Sex Trafficking in ACS' Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) training.
ACS' Policy and Procedure 2020/05: Identifying, Assessing, and Safety Planning with Child Sex and Labor Trafficking Victims, articulates the guidelines and procedures for ACS and provider agency staff in identifying children and youth for sex and/or labor trafficking, and for safety planning, coordinating with law enforcement, and making referrals for appropriate services. The policy requires screening children for sex trafficking in the Child Trafficking Database (CTDB), which is the electronic mechanism that all ACS and provider agency staff must use. This training will provide an overview of what is child trafficking, a description of the legislation that led to mandated sex trafficking screenings, a detailed overview of the policy and a step by step walk through of CTDB screening procedures, ending with a live, hands-on demonstration of a screening that puts together everything learned in the training. This training is a must for all NYC child welfare staff and any other professional who needs to understand ACS' trafficking policy and to perform the screenings correctly. No CEUs.
Register - Save the email from Teams that you will receive after you register to click on the Join Event button on May 30th to enter the training.
Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) Trainings
ACS' Policy and Procedure 2020/05: Identifying, Assessing, and Safety Planning with Child Sex and Labor Trafficking Victims, articulates the guidelines and procedures for ACS and provider agency staff in identifying children and youth for sex and/or labor trafficking, and for safety planning, coordinating with law enforcement, and making referrals for appropriate services. The policy requires screening children for sex trafficking in the Child Trafficking Database (CTDB), which is the electronic mechanism that all ACS and provider agency staff must use. This training will provide an overview of what is child trafficking, a description of the legislation that led to mandated sex trafficking screenings, a detailed overview of the policy and a step by step walk through of CTDB screening procedures, ending with a live, hands-on demonstration of a screening that puts together everything learned in the training. This training is a must for all NYC child welfare staff and any other professional who needs to understand ACS' trafficking policy and to perform the screenings correctly. No CEUs are available for this training.
All trainings are provided from 10 am to 1 pm EST, generally on the last Tuesday or Thursday of a month (with exception for holiday conflicts). A Teams link for direct registration of that month's training will be available from Traffickingtraining@acs.nyc.gov at the beginning of each month. Copy and paste the link into Chrome or Edge to register for the training. A "Join Meeting" link email will be emailed from Teams right after registration. Save the email and click on the "Join Meeting" button to enter on training date. The trainings wil also be entered into the HSLC/STARS database for Staff Development Coordinators to register ACS and provider agency staff. The Teams link wil be emailed to all registered in HSLC/STARS the day prior to the training and again at 8:00 am on the day of the training. Email all questions to Traffickngtraining@acs.nyc.gov
2024 CTDB Training Dates
- January 30th (Tuesday)
- February 29th (Thursday)
- March 28 (Thursday)
- April 30 (Tuesday)
- May 30 (Thursday)
- June 27 (Thursday)
- July 25 (Thursday)
- August 22 (Thursday)
- September 24 (Tuesday)
- October 24 (Thursday)
- November 21 (Thursday)
- December 19 (Thursday)
CTDB e-Learning:
This one-hour eLearning program prepares learners to navigate the Child Trafficking Database (CTDB), an electronic tool used to assess youth who may be at risk for sex trafficking. Learners will explore the purpose and practical application of the federal, state, and New York City assessment, reporting, and documentation mandates that protect potential victims. Before attending this eLearning training, learners must complete an online pre-test. Registration is available in Cornerstone. No CEUs. Questions about the e-Learning should be emailed to the WI Help Desk.
View the CTDB e-Learning Flyer
For All Other Trafficking Related Trainings:
ACS' Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy produces three training conferences annually, and other interspersed trainings:
- NYC Child Trafficking Prevention Conference (January)
- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month Spring Training Series (April) - Program link will be available at the beginning of March
- Back to School! Fall Training Series (October)
- Additional trainings throughout the year
Trainings will be listed on this page when registration starts. Registration is through Webex links, which can be obtained through the posted conference programs or by email to Traffickingtraining@acs.nyc.gov
Child Trafficking Awareness and Prevention
About the ACS Office of Child Trafficking Prevention & Policy (OCTPP)
Human Trafficking Prevention Virtual Resource Fair
ACS is committed to identifying and helping sex and labor trafficked children and youth achieve safety and obtain resources to help them heal and thrive. ACS ' Office of Child Trafficking Prevention & Policy (OCTPP) works with involved stakeholders to provide services to prevent trafficking and meet the needs of at-risk youth and trafficking survivors through funding from ACS and the NYS Office of Family and Children's Services' Safe Harbour Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question, or press the enter key on a question, to reveal its answer.
What is human trafficking?
Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or coercion, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.
What is the difference between child sex trafficking and adult sex trafficking and adult sex work?
Child sex trafficking does not require an element of force or fraud or coercion. It involves a commercial sex act, where something of value – money, food, clothing, drugs, shelter, protection, or other consideration – is provided in exchange for a sex act OR Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM – photos or videos of child sexual abuse), exotic dancing , escort services, private sex parties, working in an adult book/video store, online sexual interactions. Child sex trafficking is known as the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
Adult sex trafficking involves a person over the age of 18 who experiences force, fraud or coercion.
What are the types of trafficking?
The three types of Human Trafficking are Sex, Labor and Organ Trafficking.
Sex Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. Note: For children under the age of 18, the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) comprises sexual abuse and remuneration in money, goods, or services - or the promise of money, goods, or services to the child or a third person or persons for the sexual abuse of a child, who is treated as a commercial sex object. Force, fraud or coercion is not required for a child under the age of 18.
Labor Trafficking refers to a crime where a person compels or induces another person to engage in labor, or recruits, entices, harbors, or transports such other person by means of intentionally: (1) providing the victim with certain drugs;13 (2) requiring servicing of a debt that is caused by a course of conduct, with intent to defraud such a person; (3) withholding or destroying government identification documents; (4) using force or engaging in any scheme, plan, or pattern to compel or induce such person to engage in labor activity by making that person fearful.
Organ Trafficking is the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of living or deceased persons or their organs by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or of the giving to, or the receiving by, a third party of payments or benefits to achieve the transfer of control over the potential donor, for the purpose of exploitation by the removal of organs for transplantation.
What are the red flags that can help me identify sex trafficking?
What do I do if I suspect a child is being sex trafficked?
If you believe the person is in immediate danger, call 911.
National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-373-7888 Text line: 233733
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (if a child is trafficked and missing from home or a program) 800-THE-LOST (843-5678) CyberTipline: www.missingkids.com
New York State Justice Center (if you believe that a youth is being abused/neglected while placed in residential care) 855-373-2122
The Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (if suspected trafficker is a parent or person legally responsible for the child) 800-342-3720
If you are from NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Foster Care, Preventive Services or Detention Services, also notify the ACS Child Trafficking Mailbox at: Child.trafficking@acs.nyc.gov
What do I do if I suspect a child is being labor trafficked?
New York State Department of Labor Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs, via phone at 877-466-9757, or email at trafficking@labor.ny.gov for further guidance and information.
If you are from NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Foster Care, Preventive Services or Detention Services, always notify the ACS Child Trafficking Mailbox at: Child.trafficking@acs.nyc.gov
About the ACS Office of Child Trafficking Prevention & Policy (OCTPP):
The Office of Child Trafficking Prevention & Policy (OCTPP) primarily works with ACS and provider agency professionals who help trafficked and at-risk youth. OCTPP provides direct services to youth through training, groupwork, individual anti-trafficking counseling and through its Credible Messenger Program. OCTPP raises awareness of trafficking and identifies services to help survivors, at-risk youth, and their families. OCTPP administrates the NYC Safe Harbour Program, which provides guidance for all trafficked NYC youth, both internally and externally to the NYC child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
OCTPP:
- Produces events, including the annual NYC Child Trafficking Prevention Conference for January, which is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and the Spring and Fall Training Series, held in April and October, respectfully. Inquiries may be sent to Traffickingtraining@acs.nyc.gov.
- Develops trainings, policies and procedures (PDF) and reports Local Law 41 Annual Report 2023 for the NYC child welfare system
- Facilitates anti-trafficking therapeutic group work services (PDF)
- Parenting 411: Human Trafficking Prevention Month - video on groupwork models
- Provides Trafficking Related Terms and Definitions (PDF)
- Develops resources for trafficking identification and prevention, including Child Trafficking and What YOU Can Do About It, a guide to understand and recognize the signs and effects of child trafficking.
- Created Movin On': The NYC Child Tattoo Eradication Program, to provide referrals for tattoo removal, primarily for trafficked and gang involved youth in the NYC child welfare system.
- Maintains the Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) (PDF), a cloud based application where staff complete NYS mandated sex trafficking screenings for children ages birth through 18.
- Created and coordinates the ACS Credible Messenger Program, wherein adult former trafficked foster care youth share their experiences with child welfare involved youth to develop trafficking recruitment and resource awareness.
- Contact OCTPP:
- Child Trafficking Mailbox for child concerns, guidance, Law Enforcement Referral (LER) submission, email: Child.trafficking@acs.nyc.gov
- For Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) technical support, email: CTDB@acs.nyc.gov
- For information on upcoming trainings and events, email: Traffickingtraining@acs.nyc.gov
- To submit a request for a youth's tattoo removal, email: Child.tattoo.removal@acs.nyc.gov
- To book a Credible Messenger Presentation or inquire about services, email: Messenger@acs.nyc.gov
Policy
- The OCTPP agency-wide policy at ACS: Identifying Assessing and Safety Planning with Child Sex and Labor Trafficking Victims (ACS Policy and Procedure 2020/05) (PDF). The policy consists of screening mandates and procedures, OCTPP training handouts, and relevant forms and business processes specific to all divisions and programs that screen youth for trafficking.
Free Tattoo Removal for ACS-Involved Youth
If you are a youth currently receiving any type of child welfare services from ACS, in foster care, or receiving preventive or juvenile justice services, you may be eligible for free tattoo removal. To find out more, ask your ACS worker or agency case planner to contact child.tattoo.removal@acs.nyc.gov for further information.
Download OCTPP's NYC Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy Mobile App to stay up to date on our trainings, policies and procedures, and toolkit.
Help us prevent child trafficking.