The Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (OPRE) has released a report Examining the Link: Foster Care Runaway Episodes and Human Trafficking (PDF), which discusses how running from care is associated with a range of serious negative consequences, including human trafficking victimization.
The report summarizes and builds on a 2019 report to Congress, The Child Welfare System Response to Sex Trafficking of Children. The report discusses the number of youth who run from foster care, factors that place youth at risk of running from care, and the evidence around running from care and sex trafficking victimization. Where applicable, the report also reviews the evidence around running from care and labor trafficking. It concludes with a discussion of promising efforts to reduce runaway behavior.
Read the full report (PDF).
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