Human trafficking victimization among youth who run away from foster care.

Abstract Domestic minor human trafficking (HT) is a growing social justice concern, particularly among youth in the child welfare system. This paper uses administrative data to describe the characteristics and experiences of a population of youth in the child welfare system considered to be at particularly high risk of victimization: youth who have run away from foster care. Analyses are based on nearly 37,000 youth with at least one foster care placement in Florida at age 10 or older between 2011 and 2017. We examine the characteristics of youth with and without at least one foster care runaway episode, and the characteristics and experiences of youth with and without one or more HT allegations while on runaway status. Of the youth with at least one foster placement at age 10 or older, approximately 19% (n = 7039) had at least one foster care runaway episode, and of these youth, 7% (n = 542) had an HT allegation while on runaway status. Youth with HT allegations (compared to those without) during a foster care runaway episode were more likely to: be female, experience prior physical, psychological and sexual abuse, run from care at a younger age, experience more foster care placements since entry into the child welfare system, and experience more foster care runaway episodes. For most (70%) youth with a HT allegation during runaway status, the first identified trafficking allegation occurred during a foster care runaway episode. Most (67%) youth did not have another HT allegation up to a year later. Implications for research and child welfare policy and programs are discussed. Highlights • Among youth with a foster care placement at age 10 or older, 19% ran away from foster care at least once. • Among youth with at least one foster care runaway episode, 7% had an allegation of human trafficking (HT) while on runaway status. • Child, maltreatment, and placement characteristics differentiate youth with and without HT allegations during a foster care runaway episode. • For most (70%) youth with a HT allegation during runaway status, the first identified victimizaqtion occurred during a foster care runaway episode. • Most (67%) youth with HT allegations during a runaway episode did not have any additional trafficking allegations up to a year later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]