IT’S HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH IN ILLINOIS…AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IS REMINDING THAT CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IS A STATEWIDE PROBLEM.
SINCE 2011…D-C-F-S HAS INVESTIGATED 600 ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING IN ILLINOIS. THE AGENCY’S STACY SLOAN SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALL OVER THE STATE…AND MANY OF THE KIDS WHO ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD ARE RUNAWAYS.
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SLOAN SAYS ABOUT HALF OF THE CASES OF CHILD TRAFFICKING ARE IN CHICAGO…AND THE REST ARE SPREAD OUT AROUND THE STATE. BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS ARE TRAFFICKED, SOME YOUNGER THAN 12 YEARS OLD. SHE SAYS THE KIDS ARE MOSTLY SOLD FOR SEX.
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SLOAN SAYS IF YOU SUSPECT A CHILD IS A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CALL 9-1-1 AND THE D-C-F-S CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT HOTLINE AT 1-800-25-ABUSE.
