# Is Human Trafficking Happening in Your Classroom? Source: https://3rdmil.com/is_human_trafficking_happening_in_your_classroom/ Last updated: 2026-05-11T16:35:25+00:00 Is Human Trafficking Happening in Your Classroom? - 3rdmil - Blog [Skip to content](https://3rdmil.com/is_human_trafficking_happening_in_your_classroom/#content) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bg_big_alt.svg) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/is-human-trafficking-happening-in-your-classroom.jpg) ## Is Human Trafficking Happening in Your Classroom? You’ve probably been in school for a little bit by this point and gotten to know your students better. **Do any of your students seem “off”?** Maybe they don’t quite meet your eyes when they talk to you or they have already had some unexcused absences? While not always, this could be an **indicator of human trafficking.** Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a person for labor or commercial sex. Unfortunately, many of these victims can go unnoticed in your classroom. ### What do you look for? Here are some other questions to ask yourself if you are unsure about a student in your classroom: - Does the student have unexplained absences from school? - Has the student suddenly changed his or her usual attire, behavior, or relationships? - Does the student suddenly have more (and/or more expensive) material possessions? - Does the student chronically run away from home? - Does the student act fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous and paranoid? - Does the student defer to another person to speak for him or her, especially during interactions with school authority figures (this may include an adult described by the student as a relative, but also may be a friend or boyfriend/girlfriend)? - Does the student show signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or other serious pain or suffering? - Does the student appear to have been deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care, or other life necessities? - Is the student in possession of his or her own identification documents (e.g., student identification card, driver’s license, or passport), or does someone else have them? - Does the student have a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” who is noticeably older? - Is the student engaging in uncharacteristically promiscuous behavior, or making references to sexual situations or terminology that are beyond age-specific norms? - Does the student appear to be restricted from contacting family, friends, or his or her legal guardian? #### What should you do? While these behaviors do not necessarily mean someone is being trafficked, the more of them you can say “yes” to, the more concern you should have. **If you have a strong suspicion trafficking is happening, don’t hesitate to report it:** - Call 911 - Tell the dispatcher you are reporting suspected human trafficking - Make sure to mention the age of the child and any other pertinent details After you report to the police: - Call the **National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline** at **1-888-3737-888** OR text details to the **National Human Trafficking Resource Center** at **BeFree (233733)** **Make sure you also mention it to the admin of your school.** It’s also a good idea to **set up a system** at your school for reporting human trafficking if there isn’t already one in place. By being aware of human trafficking, you can make a difference in the lives of your students. Be on the lookout and make sure to share this with your coworkers. #### Learn More about Trafficking We have a course called [Red Flags](https://3rdmil.com/red-flags-sign-up/) that trains individuals to identify and intervene in human trafficking situations. You can preview the course **[here.](https://3rdmil.com/red-flags-sign-up/)** Additionally, if you are from Texas, **[you can take this course for CEUs](https://3rdmil.com/redflags-tx-hhs/)**.  - [Grooming](https://3rdmil.com/tag/grooming/), [Grooming for Human Trafficking](https://3rdmil.com/tag/grooming_for_human_trafficking/), [Human Trafficking](https://3rdmil.com/tag/human-trafficking/), [Human Trafficking Prevention](https://3rdmil.com/tag/human_trafficking_prevention/), [Red Flags](https://3rdmil.com/tag/red-flags/) ## Popular Topics: - [Alcohol](https://3rdmil.com/category/alcohol/) - [Drugs](https://3rdmil.com/category/drugs/) - [Cannabis and THC](https://3rdmil.com/category/cannabis-and-thc/) - [Vaping and Nicotine](https://3rdmil.com/category/vaping-and-nicotine/) - [Human Trafficking](https://3rdmil.com/category/human-trafficking/) - [Healthy Relationships](https://3rdmil.com/category/healthy-relationships/) - [Universities and Colleges](https://3rdmil.com/category/universities-and-colleges/) - [High Schools and Middle Schools](https://3rdmil.com/category/high-schools-and-middle-schools/) [https://3rdmil.com/?s=](https://3rdmil.com/?s=) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/search_desktop.svg) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/search_mobile.svg) [see all articles tablet](https://3rdmil.com/?s=) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/search_desktop.svg) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/search_mobile.svg) [Page 1 32](https://3rdmil.com/?s=) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Page-1-3.svg) ## Related Articles [![bg\_sec2](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/bg_sec2-qgm4sqdgtva4y0szr7luczafz6p3apz36ubh34q1g0.webp) ## AI and Academic Integrity: How Universities Can Prevent AI Cheating and Protect Their Reputation ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Little-Squares.svg)](https://3rdmil.com/ai-academic-integrity-higher-education/) [![Cannabis\_ A\_Detailed\_Guide-img](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Cannabis_-A_Detailed_Guide-img-scaled-1-qk224g3aw94ulf50ia25tol5l5prkigud7zuec2bbk.jpg) ## The 2018 Farm Bill Explained: What Schools, Courts, and Agencies Must Know in 2026 ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Little-Squares.svg)](https://3rdmil.com/the-2018-farm-bill-explained-what-schools-courts-and-agencies-must-know-in-2026/) [![hazing prevention photo](https://3rdmil-uploads.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/06212432/hazing-prevention-photo.jpg) ## Hazing Is a Multi-Million Dollar Problem for Universities: Here’s Why Prevention Matters ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Little-Squares.svg)](https://3rdmil.com/cost-of-hazing-universities/) [![Screenshot 2026-05-07 110053](https://3rdmil-uploads.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/07160103/Screenshot-2026-05-07-110053.png) ## Course Highlight: Hazing & Hosting ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Little-Squares.svg)](https://3rdmil.com/course-highlight-hazing-hosting/) [https://3rdmil.com/?s=](https://3rdmil.com/?s=)