Safe Harbour

NYS Safe Harbour Act is implemented to strengthen our existing system to create a more effective and efficient response to youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking, or who are vulnerable to it. 

Child Exploitation is defined as the act of using a child (age 0-18) for profit, labor, sexual gratification where an adult gains personal or financial advantages.

Red Flags for Sex Trafficking:

• Unexplained absences from school for a period of time
• Inappropriately dressed for age and/or weather
• Engaged in sexual situations or behaviors beyond age-specific norms
• Has a noticeably older significant other 
• Expensive gifts, clothing, having more than one cell phone
• Chronic running away from home or foster system
• Homeless, couch surfing
• Survivors of prior abuse
• In a controlling relationship
• Branded/ tattoos/ markings
• Substance Abuse
• Mental Health
• Malnutrition, dehydrated, exhausted 

Red Flags for Labor Trafficking:

• Unexplained absences from school for a period of time
• Child may not be biological child of “parent” in a home-are they “working for aunt or uncle”
• Child responsible for child care, elder care, or cleaning-may be often hidden as “chores”
• Mental Health
• Third-party control of schedule and social interactions
• Inability to speak English
• Identification documents in the hands of a third party
• Lack of knowledge about the community
• Malnutrition, dehydrated, exhausted 
• Works excessively long or unusual hours
• Living in dangerous, overcrowded or inhumane conditions
• Fear of authorities
• Feel pressure to repay debts

Resources:

Registration for the 2022 Safe Harbour Panel

• Wyoming County 2020 Safe Harbor Panel - Video
• National Human Trafficking Hotline Number: 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733
• Polaris Project

• Office of Children and Family Services Indictors of Human Trafficking
• The Potter's Hand Foundation
• Framework for a Human Trafficking Protocol in Health Care Settings
• Wyoming County Resource Guide 

This program is funded by NYS OCFS and Wyoming County.