More than 79,000 youth are being trafficked for sex in Texas each year, and Houston is a major hub for human trafficking. To raise awareness, The Center for Safe and Secure Schools at Harris County Department of Education calls attention to trafficking crimes during Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January.

Julia Andrews, director of the Center, says human trafficking is a form of abuse or neglect, and educators and the general public must report trafficking.

“Everyone has a duty to immediately report suspected or disclosed abuse or neglect, and educational professionals must report it within 48 hours and may not rely on another person to make that report,” Andrews said.

Below are additional facts about human trafficking. For more information about prevention, go to www.hcde-texas.org/safe-and-secure-schools . To report, call 713-222-TIPS (Crime Stoppers Houston).

• 1 in 3 runaway youth are lured into prostitution within 48 hours.
• 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
• Human trafficking is a federal crime and is the second largest criminal industry.
• 76 percent of transactions for sex with underage girls are conducted via the Internet.

Developed at the request of local superintendents in the spring of 1999 to advance safe and secure environments for learning and teaching, the Center for Safe and Secure Schools is a leader in the development of increased safety and security strategies in school environments for students and educators.

The Center provides school safety facility audits, school climate and culture training, emergency operation planning and other school safety workshops as needed by area schools.