Some children do not live to tell their stories, though the CDC reports that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experienced sexual abuse as children. Most abused children will never tell their stories out of shame and fear.

Predators can be anyone; a family member, school teacher, principal, police officer, fire fighter, doctor, therapist, counselor, and even Sunday school teachers and preachers. Predators prey on children by putting themselves in situations where they have access to children.

Children from broken families are the most vulnerable. Predators prey on children from broken homes, group homes, foster care, and runaways. The U.S. Department of State reports that foster care is a consistent problem.

Live-in parents and step parents are 20 times more likely to abuse a child than a biological parent. (2019 TIP report)

City reports show that between 60% to as many as 90% of the children rescued in sex trafficking stings were in foster care before they were trafficked. Often, when they are rescued, they are returned to state custody where they will likely run away again.

Predators have been known to wait around the corner and just down the streets from group homes because they know that children will often run away from places they do not want to be. Studies show that children in foster homes are 10 times more likely to be sexually abused than children that live with biological parents. Children that live in group homes are 28 times more likely to be abused.

Predators can be a family friend or someone that the adults in the family think can be trusted, such as is the case often with teachers, preachers, and other children. Child sex abuse is most likely to happen when a child is between the ages of 6 to 11 years old.

Localizing foster care us one solution that may prevent runaway children from falling into the hands of predators. Many sex trafficked children ran away from a group home or a foster home when they landed in the hands of sex traffickers. Another solution to reduce both child sex trafficking and the need for foster care is to shift the ASFA funding in a way that allows states to be paid when they place a child in need with a family member.

Trafficking in person (TIP) reports: https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/

Tips to SAVE YOUR CHILDREN: Child predators are everywhere.

Minding Hearts is building advocacy and peer support groups in each state.  The groups are created to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for those that might not otherwise be heard. We are here for encouragement, education, and support. We cannot give legal advice, but we can try and direct you in the right direction with your case. Links to legal services are listed with their states. Please share and let’s grow our groups. We are here to support families and develop resources that maintain family integrity. We look forward to your support. If you would rather become active by donating, then visit the donation page.