SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Unified School District has partnered with San Diego Youth Services to prevent students from falling victim to sex trafficking, the district said in a news release Wednesday.
The school district said it will use a collaborative response model to work with students who are vulnerable to exploitation.
It is also updating its reporting protocols, implementing staff training and planning town halls.
San Diego Unified said it hopes to complete most of these enhancements in January, which is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
According to the San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collection, 90% of high schools across San Diego County reported cases of sex trafficking. Another local study also found that the average age of entry into the commercial sex trade in San Diego is 16 years old.
Part of what San Diego Unified is doing includes an easily accessible online form where concerns can be reported. That information will then be shared with a district Investigations, Compliance and Accountability officer who is trained to respond to these sorts of incidents.
The officer will coordinate with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force to ensure any safety concerns are addressed, according to the district.
Starting next month, districtwide staff will receive training on implementing the new protocols, which will also include formal written procedures and a police liaison officer.
The district will also host community town halls where parents and students can learn more about reporting options, resources and what the district is doing.
The purpose of the district’s new partnership with San Diego Youth Services, which was finalized on Jan. 13, is to ensure that students, families and employees have immediate access to services and resources, the district said.
“When students know where to go and what will happen next, they are more likely to speak up,” said Alina Nguyen, student trustee on the San Diego Unified Board of Education, in the news release. “Clear reporting options help students feel safer and remind us that our voices matter.”
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