Online registration is available until: 5/25/2026
In this learning session, Dr. Christina Vela and Lived Experience Expert Annika Huff will explore the landscape of human trafficking in the United States and examine the primary motivations of those who perpetrate these crimes. Together, they will outline the vulnerabilities that increase a young person’s susceptibility to exploitation, with particular attention to the unique risks faced by youth in foster care. The session will also highlight indicators of grooming—both online and in personal relationships—and offer actionable strategies that care professionals can use to strengthen protective factors, build trust, and engage youth in conversations that help prevent child trafficking.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Define human trafficking and distinguish it from other forms of exploitation.
Understand why trafficking remains a pervasive issue in the United States, including social, economic, and cultural factors driving its growth.
Identify who perpetrates trafficking, including both traffickers and buyers, and understand the motivations behind their actions.
Recognize key vulnerabilities that increase a young person’s risk of being trafficked.
Examine the intersectionality between trafficking and foster youth, including systemic factors that contribute to heightened risk.
Identify common grooming tactics, with emphasis on online grooming and relationship‑based grooming patterns.
Apply practical strategies for care providers, including how to educate youth about trafficking, build protective relationships, and connect them with resources for safety and support.
Registration Fees:
FFTA Members: $195
Non-members: $235
This live webinar has been approved for 3 Cultural Competence Continuing Education hours. Family Focused Treatment Association, #1659, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. FFTA maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 4/10/2025 - 4/10/2028.
Online registration is available until: 5/25/2026