Given the recent events in Cleveland, Ohio, where three girls were abducted ten years ago and held captive by a predator, Friend to Friend would like to remind our community that this type of situation can happen anywhere.

We would like to provide you a few tips on how to keep your child safe and prevent them from human trafficking.

Here a few facts to keep in mind:

Fact: Most children who become prostituted were ‘turned out’ at the age of 11 or 12.

Fact: Most children come from ‘normal’ homes and go to school regularly.

Fact: An estimated 300,000 children a year become victims of childhood child sex trafficking a year.

Fact: Pimps are kidnapping children right off the street in almost every major city in the US, and the news media, police departments, and the FBI is NOT telling you the facts. It is called guerrilla pimping and it’s all the rage among street thug pimps.

Fact: Child sex trafficking is a BILLION dollar a year organized crime operation using sites like Craigslist, Backpage, and Red Book to do business and sell children to local and overseas pedophiles daily.

Fact: Child sex trafficking is usually a mobile business where ‘the team’ (Pimp, wifeys, and kiddies) go from town to town or truck stop to truck stop, posting ads on sites like Craigslist to entice pedophiles to rape these children for hire.

Fact: The prostituted child is brainwashed into believing he or she is worthless and that nobody will want her anymore. This makes the child extremely afraid to flee or run away from the abductor.

Fact; A simple GPS device can enable you and your child to develop a program of safety together.

Here a some tips to help keep your children and teens safe.

1.  Know who their friends are.  Your child may be friends with someone who is involved in a sex trafficking ring.  Watch your child’s friends closely.  If you do not know who they are…find out!  Middle school children are the prime target for human trafficking, so get involved in your child’s school so that you know who is who.

2.  Remind your child and teen to keep their Facebook pages and any social media profile pages private.  Predators use social media sites to find girls and boys they want to traffic.

3.  Keep your child busy with healthy extracurricular activities that they enjoy.  Pimps and predators surf malls, parking lots, fast food restaurant parking lots and quick stop gas stations to find their next victims.  If your child is telling you they are going to “hang out”, ask questions and check in with them frequently.

4.  Educate your child about human trafficking.  It is a reality in our world.  One of the main things for your child to know is that the pimp or predator will more than likely call them by name over to the car.  They have usually found them on Facebook or through conducting some research.  Tell your child to never walk over to a car that they do not know.  Having said this, it is not uncommon for you and your child to know the pimp/predator.  When your child heads out for the night, ask them who their safety buddy will be, and tell your child/teen to stick with this person.

5.  Look into a GPS device for your child.  Many professionals recommend the Amber Alert GPS system.  The software can be added to a smart phone or can be a small device that your child keeps in a pant or coat pocket.

6.  If you have suspicions, comb your child’s computer, cell phones, iPads or any digital devices and their bedrooms looking for clues. If you have a hunch that something is going on with your child that could put them in danger, your hunches are probably right. Cell phones, computer, and other mobile devices are privileges, not rights. Don’t let your child make you feel guilty for keeping them safe. You are their parent…not their best friend. While you may also be a great friend, as a parent, it is your responsibility to keep your child safe.

At Friend to Friend, we are celebrating the safe return of Amanda, Gina and Michelle, and we hope for the best and brightest future for these 3 women and their families.

Friend to Friend is a United Way Agency and is supported by the North Carolina Council on Women.

Thousands of US minors are victims of trafficking each year. The FBI has rescued over 1,500 kids through their Innocence Lost initiatives in the past couple of years alone. They believe they are just scratching the surface. Unfortunately, those numbers are solid indicators that child trafficking and sexual exploitation is an enormous problem in the US.

Children, teens and young adults are being abducted from parking lots, fast food restaurants, schools, malls and through the internet. PLEASE take the time to talk to your children about human trafficking and how to NEVER get in a car with someone they don’t know. And, encourage your child to always have a buddy/buddies with them to improve safety and security.  Watch this video to learn more about this dangerous epidemic.

Friend to Friend is a United Way Agency and is supported by the North Carolina Council on Women.