Stop Traffick: Human Trafficking in America

Gr 9 Up—A short film called "Stop Traffick" and a documentary about trafficking are included in this very informative program for teens and their parents about young Americans who are groomed for prostitution and then sold into slavery around the globe. The narrative film, starring Stephen Baldwin, focuses on a type of trafficking particularly relevant to youth and describes a scenario of a mother trying to find her daughter in Las Vegas. "Human Trafficking in America," in addition to delving into the making of the film, looks at facts related to the subject but mostly focuses on young women and, to a lesser extent, young men. A spokesperson for Worthwhile Wear, an anti-trafficking organization, describes ways to learn the signs of trafficking, characteristics of potential victims, and the ways traffickers groom their victims. Finally, the program concludes with a "What can I do?" section with information and suggestions on staying safe online, trusting one's gut, and maintaining communication between parents and children. An interesting tip is given; young people are told to "like" various anti-trafficking groups on social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, to scare off potential predators. This would be a good video to share in a high school health class or as part of an exploration of online safety. At Learningzonexpress.com, there are additional resources for teachers.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston