The Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative releases "Child Labor Trafficking in Maryland: Findings from an Environmental Scan,” a report with recommendations to combat child labor trafficking.
New Report Reveals Insights into Child Labor Trafficking in Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland – The Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is proud to announce the release of a report that sheds light on the hidden epidemic of child labor trafficking in the state. Titled "Child Labor Trafficking in Maryland: Findings from an Environmental Scan," this exploration of labor trafficking in reveals the extent of this issue in our state and presents vital recommendations to combat child labor trafficking and protect vulnerable children.
Child labor trafficking is a grave concern that has often remained overlooked. It is challenging to quantify and address, primarily due to the lack of comprehensive data. However, the report highlights that federal and state law changes have improved our understanding and response to cases of child sex trafficking, leading to enhanced data collection through child welfare systems. These changes could pave the way for increased identification and response to labor trafficking of children.
The study finds that child victims of labor trafficking are, indeed, being identified in Maryland, with a network of specialized service providers ready to support these youth. Additionally, a survey of child welfare and juvenile services professionals indicates that many have experience working with exploited youth, and they believe they will encounter such cases in the future.
The economic and geographical landscape of Maryland exposes several risk factors contributing to the exploitation of children for labor. PARI Director, Amelia Rubenstein, LCSW-C says “For example, Maryland has consistently been in the top 7 states receiving unaccompanied children released to sponsors since 2014. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, our state has received over 30,000 unaccompanied children since October 2014. These youth are at a high risk of human trafficking and need critical support services to reduce their vulnerability to all forms of exploitation.” One anti-trafficking service provider shared, "There is a lack of job opportunities for minors within Baltimore City, either due to lack of options, lack of personal documentation, or lack of transportation. Youth are left to find income/employment under the table, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation."
In light of these findings, the report proposes the following recommendations to enhance Maryland's response to child labor trafficking:
1. Amend child abuse laws to include labor trafficking as a form of child maltreatment and recognize Forced Criminality as a form of labor trafficking.
2. Support the development of policies and practices by Maryland's Department of Human Services and Department of Juvenile Services to improve screening, reporting, investigation, and service connection for at-risk or victimized youth.
3. Provide specialized training on child labor trafficking for Maryland's public child welfare and juvenile services professionals.
4. Increase access to culturally and linguistically responsive support programs for unaccompanied youth and migrant families throughout the state.
5. Promote access to meaningful and gainful employment opportunities for youth, including competitively paid internships to build vocational skills and employment growth prospects.
Implementing these recommendations will drastically enhance Maryland's response to child labor trafficking, introducing preventative and proactive changes that address vulnerabilities and risks while creating a more effective infrastructure to identify victims and connect them with essential services.
The University of Maryland School of Social Work's Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative is committed to safeguarding the well-being of youth and is dedicated to eradicating child labor and sex trafficking in Maryland. The release of this report marks a significant step towards achieving this goal. To access the full report and for more information about the Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative, please visit https://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/pari/.