BRYAN, Texas — Human trafficking is a worldwide problem with deep roots in Texas and even the Brazos Valley.
Unbound BCS fights human trafficking every day, and on Thursday, they tailored their message to parents and caregivers, teaching the red flags and online dangers that can come with human trafficking.
From poverty, homelessness and substance abuse, the organization says there are lots factors that can make a child vulnerable to a human trafficker.
“Somebody could hide and act like somebody that they’re not and gain that trust with youth or even with anybody online,” said Deanna Gatlin, Unbound BCS' Youth Prevention Director.
While kidnapping is a possibility, Unbound said traffickers are often someone a victim knows.
"The romantic and boyfriend girlfriend type relationships are more the method that the traffickers will use...and then they’ll start grooming the victim,” said Gatlin, "and victims of trafficking may still be going to school or at home and going through their regular activity but being trafficked through different methods online or trafficked on the weekend.”
Part of Unbound's mission is teaching school staff and parents about things to look for in their child that may indicate they are a victim of human trafficking.
“...if there's changes in their behavior, if they’re skipping school or their grades are suffering or they have marks on them," Gatlin said.
With the many faces human traffickers and their victims can have, the organization hopes that people “pay more attention to whats happening around them and be the eyes and ears in the front lines of our community because they can save a life just by making a phone call.”
Unbound BCS is funded by the governor’s office "Keeping Students Safe" grant which allows for this type of training.
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