Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Month
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[January 27, 2022]
On Friday, January 28, Illinois DCFS will join
advocates and volunteers at a candlelight vigil in Calumet Park,
Illinois in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month. |
The event, organized by Dr. Kisha Roberts-Tabb
with Roberts-Tabb & Associates, will take place from 9-10 p.m. at
12808 South Ashland Ave. to shine a light on the issue of domestic
human trafficking. Packets that include toiletries and information
about substance abuse services, shelter care programs and human
trafficking referral services will be distributed to anyone in need.
Runaway youth, youth in care and homeless youth are especially
vulnerable to human trafficking.
Its important for everyone to realize that human trafficking is
happening across the United States every day. DCFS works in
coordination with law enforcement and community organizations to
provide a safety net to rescue child human trafficking victims and
help them heal, said Illinois DCFS Director Marc D. Smith. The
public can help keep children safe by learning the signs of human
trafficking and by immediately calling 911 or the Child Abuse
Hotline (1-800-25-ABUSE) if they believe a child is in danger.
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In Fiscal Year 2021, Illinois DCFS investigated 309 allegations of
human trafficking of children, 127 of those in Cook County a
number experts believe is lower than the true number of incidents.
Often, victims of human trafficking do not seek help because they
are fearful, ashamed of their situation, distrust law enforcement or
become dependent on the perpetrator. The Illinois Safe Children Act
ensures that all children who are lured or coerced into
prostitution/human trafficking are innocent and immune from criminal
prosecution; and will be placed in the child welfare system instead
of the criminal justice system.
The RTA Group is dedicated to bringing awareness to human
trafficking through training, evaluation, coaching and counseling to
ensure that vulnerable populations are afforded the best care and
treatment possible without violating their dignity and safety, said
Dr. Kisha Roberts-Tabb. In a nation coined as the land of the free,
the exploitation of women and children has become a common
occurrence in impoverished communities. It is important that we give
a voice to the voiceless. [to top of second
column] |
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KNOW THE SIGNS.
A trafficked child might:
Have an adult control them by speaking for them
Seem out of place given the time of day or night
Look disheveled or dressed in clothes that they could not afford
to buy
Show signs of physical abuse such as bruising or red marks
Not possess any form of identification
Perform inappropriate work for their age and not be compensated
To report the suspected human trafficking of a child under the age
of 21, call the Illinois DCFS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE
(22873). To report the suspected human trafficking of an adult over
age 21, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at
1-888-373-7888.
About the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Founded in 1964, DCFS is responsible for protecting children from
abuse or neglect by responding to calls received on the Child Abuse
Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). With the goal of keeping
children safe, DCFS strengthens and supports families with a wide
range of services. When keeping a child safe means removing them
from the home, DCFS makes every effort to reunite them with their
family. When the best interest of the child makes this impossible,
DCFS is committed to pursuing adoption by loving families to provide
children with a safe and permanent home. DCFS is also responsible
for licensing and monitoring of all Illinois child welfare agencies.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
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