January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shining a light on the tragedy of human trafficking and the continued efforts to end the exploitation of children. Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploiting them for profit. This exploitation may include forced labor, sexual slavery, or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. It is a serious violation of human rights and modern-day slavery, and one of the most profitable criminal enterprises in the world. Across the nation, human trafficking ranks as the third largest criminal industry globally, behind drug dealing and arms trafficking, and continues to grow rapidly.
Local and State Crisis
Texas consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for human trafficking reports and hotline contacts. In 2024, Texas received more than 2,400 signals to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, with nearly 700 of those coming directly from victims and survivors, and more than 2,400 total victims identified in trafficking cases statewide. The majority of those cases involved sex trafficking. (National Human Trafficking Hotline)
Texas statistics from landmark research estimate there are over 300,000 human trafficking victims in Texas, including approximately 79,000 minors and youth victims of sex trafficking. (Elijah Rising)
Human trafficking doesn’t stop at county lines. Fort Bend County, a rapidly growing and diverse region adjacent to Houston, is recognized as one of the nation’s highest trafficking hubs, shares in this crisis. While county-specific child trafficking data remains limited, local leaders identify that trafficking occurs across urban, suburban, and rural areas, and that there is no single community untouched by this crime. (Texas CASA)
Child Advocates of Fort Bend: County Care Coordinator
At Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB), the focus is the human trafficking of minors, particularly sexual exploitation. CAFB has been formally designated by the Office of the Governor of Texas as Fort Bend County’s Care Coordinator for victims of human trafficking. In this role, we are developing county-wide systems, protocols, and standards for identification, response, and coordinated care. To lead this critical initiative, CAFB has convened a multi-agency Development Team, comprised of law enforcement, juvenile justice, behavioral health, medical professionals, child welfare partners, and community advocates. This team has crafted an overarching vision and mission to guide the county’s response to child trafficking. Child Advocates of Fort Bend has also established a Rapid Response Team activated immediately upon the recovery of a child to ensure that victims receive timely, trauma informed care.
Collaborative Community Action
CAFB is proud to partner with the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective (ATC), a multi-disciplinary task force uniting local, state, and federal law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers, and community-based organizations to strengthen efforts against human trafficking. The ATC focuses on:
Through this partnership, CAFB and ATC members work together to protect neighborhoods, support victims’ recovery journeys, and amplify efforts to hold traffickers accountable.
Committed to Prevention and Education
Beyond direct services, CAFB is deeply committed to educating the community to prevent other children from being recruited into the human trafficking industry. Our outreach includes trainings, awareness campaigns, and prevention experiences for schools, parents, and professionals who work with youth.
To Learn More
Human trafficking affects our community, right here in Fort Bend County. To learn more about human trafficking, how to recognize signs, and what you can do to help, visit www.cafb.org or contact Child Advocates of Fort Bend at 281-344-5100.