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Foster Care & Human Trafficking: Protecting Vulnerable Youth
Human trafficking is a harsh reality that affects vulnerable youth across the country, including right here in Orange County. At Orangewood Foundation, we work every day to support young people at risk of exploitation, providing them with the resources, safety, and care they need to build brighter futures. One of the ways we do this is through Project Choice, a program designed to support youth ages 11-21 who are at risk of or actively experiencing trafficking. Through a partnership with Orange County Social Services, Project Choice offers critical intervention, advocacy, and support.
Garbralle Conroe, our Director of Drop-In Services, oversees Project Choice and brings invaluable expertise to this work. In today’s post, we’ll share insight into the intersection of foster care and trafficking—and how we can all play a role in protecting young people from exploitation.
Understanding Human Trafficking and Its Impact on Foster Youth
For those of us new to this topic, what is Human Trafficking?
Garbralle: Human Trafficking occurs when a person uses force, fraud, or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act, including prostitution, pornography, and sexual performance in exchange for something of value, such as money, drugs, shelter, food, or clothes.
Wow, that sounds scary. Are kids at risk of this kind of exploitation?
Garbralle: Traffickers are experts at finding those moments when people are vulnerable, of working the angles, of manipulating reality and using fears. The process is called grooming. The purpose of the grooming process is for a trafficker to be able to gain full control over their victim and manipulate them into cooperating in their own exploitation. While every situation is different the overall grooming process usually involves the following steps:
- Target the Victim
- Gaining Trust
- Meeting needs
- Isolation
- Exploitation
- Maintaining Control
The process is called grooming. The purpose of the grooming process is for a trafficker to be able to gain full control over their victim and manipulate them into cooperating in their own exploitation.
How Traffickers Target and Exploit Vulnerable Young People
Youth in foster care face a significantly higher risk of being targeted by traffickers. Studies show that up to 60% of child trafficking victims have spent time in the child welfare system. This is because foster youth often experience instability, a lack of consistent support, and feelings of isolation—factors that traffickers know how to exploit.
Trafficking is not a single event but a gradual process of manipulation. Understanding how it happens is key to preventing it. Let’s walk through the six stages of trafficking that Garbralle noted and how they apply to foster youth.
1. Targeting the Victim
Traffickers look for individuals who seem vulnerable—those who might feel alone, lack support, or are struggling to meet their needs. Youth who have experienced multiple foster placements, disrupted relationships, or past trauma may be particularly susceptible.
Because of this, traffickers often target places where foster youth gather, such as shelters, group homes, or even online spaces where young people seek community and connection. They know that a child who feels unseen or unheard may be more willing to listen when someone offers them attention, understanding, or help.
2. Gaining Trust
Once a trafficker has identified a potential victim, they work to build a false sense of friendship and support. This can start with small gestures—offering a ride, listening when no one else seems to, or simply showing up consistently.
They may pretend to relate to the youth’s struggles, saying things like, “I know how it feels when no one cares about you.” Over time, this sense of trust makes the young person feel as though they finally have someone looking out for them.
It’s also common for traffickers to use peers as recruiters—other young people who have already been manipulated into believing they are helping by bringing others in. This makes the process feel even safer, since the new “friend” appears to be just another person in a similar situation.
This is why tracking and supporting youth who leave foster placements is so important—because the longer a child is away from a safe environment, the higher the risk they will be taken in by someone who does not have their best interests at heart.
3. Meeting Needs
Traffickers often offer things that seem helpful or generous—a meal, a place to stay, new clothes, or even a phone.
For a youth who has experienced food insecurity or unstable housing, the promise of reliable meals or a place to sleep can feel like a lifeline. Someone who has never had the latest sneakers or a brand-name jacket may feel special when given gifts.
But it’s not just about material things—traffickers also provide emotional support in a way that feels genuine. They might ask about school, give encouragement, or simply make the youth feel seen and valued. This is why their tactics are so effective. By the time they begin making demands, their target already feels like they owe them something.
4. Isolation
Once trust is established, traffickers begin cutting off outside influences that might question or disrupt their control.
They might say things like:
“Your foster parents don’t really care about you.”
“Your social worker just sees you as a case file.”
“If you tell anyone about this, they won’t believe you.”
For a young person who has already experienced rejection or instability, these statements may not feel like manipulation—they may feel like confirmation of what they already suspect. As they become more isolated, they feel they have fewer and fewer people to turn to.
This is why strong, stable relationships with trusted adults are so important in preventing trafficking. The more caring, consistent people in a child’s life, the harder it is for a trafficker to convince them that no one else is on their side.
5. Exploitation
At this stage, a trafficker begins making demands. They may pressure the young person into doing things they are uncomfortable with, using guilt, obligation, or threats.
By the time this happens, the youth often feels trapped—they don’t want to disappoint the person they trust, they don’t know who else to turn to, or they fear that no one will help them.
This is why early intervention is key—so that foster youth never get to this stage in the first place.
6. Maintaining Control
The final step is keeping the young person in the cycle. Traffickers use different methods to prevent them from leaving—sometimes through fear, sometimes through manipulation, sometimes simply by making them believe this is their only option.
But it is never too late for a young person to break free. That’s where Project Choice comes in.
But it is never too late for a young person to break free. That’s where Project Choice comes in.
How Project Choice Supports At-Risk and Trafficked Youth
Project Choice is Orangewood Foundation’s specialized program for youth aged 11-21 who are at risk of or actively being trafficked. We work directly with Orange County Social Services to identify and support young people before, during, and after they experience exploitation.
What You Can Do to Help Prevent Trafficking
Back to Garbralle!
Okay, so what kinds of questions can we ask if we think someone is being trafficked or groomed?
Garbralle: Here are a few clear, simple questions you could ask:
- Is anyone forcing or pressuring you to do anything you do not want to do?
- Are you allowed to talk to people outside of your home or job?
- Can you come and go as you please?
- Do you feel safe where you are living?
- Have you ever exchanged sex for something of value?
What kind of services does Project Choice and the rest of Orangewood Foundation offer to support survivors, or those who are still at risk of/currently being trafficked?
Garbralle: At our drop-in center, we support with all kinds of services, such as:
- 24/7 Warmline support: (714) 619-8413
- Basic Needs (Shower, meals, clothing, hygiene items)
- Crisis Intervention & Safety Planning
- On Site Nurse/Health Education
- Young Moms support
- Safe Housing
- Therapeutic Programming & Individual therapy
- Referrals
- Case Management
- Juvenile Hall Support
- Grace Court Advocacy Support
- Peer Mentor Program
- Community Outreach & Education:
- Prevention Education
- Community Trainings
- Event Outreach
What can we do if we have concerns about someone being trafficked?
Garbralle: If you see something say something. Please reach out to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (24/7) at 1-888-373-7888. You can also text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733) or submit a tip online at http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org.
Taking Action: How You Can Help Break the Cycle
Through advocacy, legislation, and dedicated support programs, awareness of the connection between foster care and trafficking has grown significantly. But awareness alone isn’t enough—it takes action to break this cycle.
One of the most impactful ways to help is by supporting foster youth before they ever encounter a trafficker. At Orangewood Foundation, Project Choice provides essential services to young people at risk of trafficking, offering a safe space, crisis intervention, mentorship, and access to resources that help them regain control of their futures.
Another powerful way to make a difference is by becoming a foster parent to a teen in need. Youth Connected Program (YCP) is dedicated to ensuring foster youth have the stable, supportive relationships they need to grow and heal. By opening your home and heart, you can be the difference between a young person finding safety or falling into vulnerability.
How You Can Help:
If you or someone you know needs support, Project Choice offers resources, guidance, and a safe place to turn.
Interested in becoming a foster parent? Learn more about how YCP supports foster families and youth by visiting Youth Connected Program or clicking the “Get Started” button at the top of the screen. You can also reach out directly at [email protected].
Every young person deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Together, we can change lives and stop trafficking before it begins.
