When children and/or youth can't live safely at home due to abuse/neglect, a court of law can give the State of Texas temporary legal custody. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) places these children in foster care. Children and youth with any level of child welfare history are vulnerable to the ploys and tactics of human traffickers. Therefore, the relationship between DFPS’s Education Specialists and school districts’ Foster Care Liaisons is crucial for the success and protection of these children and/or youth. In this session, DFPS’s Human Trafficking Division and Child Protective Services - Education Specialists will explain the dynamics of labor and sex trafficking, the vulnerabilities and red flags of both, as well as the intersection of human trafficking and child welfare. Participants will also gain a greater understanding of a child or youth’s path through the foster care system and how to bridge gaps between DFPS and the school system.

Presenters will be:

Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Division:

Ada McCloud, Prevention Practitioner

Mikey Betancourt, Program Specialist

Education Specialists:

Carolyn Marshall, Education Specialist

Norma Eaves, Education Specialist

Cari Schroeder, Education Specialist

Felicia Penn, Education Program Specialist

This is a free webinar for Region 10 Schools.

The webinar or zoom link will be sent prior to the date of the session.