To ensure that victimized or at-risk youth within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems are receiving the care they need, I intend to introduce legislation that would require child welfare agencies and juvenile justice facilities develop programs for screening youth at risk of sex trafficking. These programs would be developed alongside the Department of Human Services, and they would seek to screen for signs of children having been a victim, or signs that they are at risk of becoming a victim. Recognizing these risks will allow for state agencies to provide the specialized care that these children need.
 
Children who end up in child welfare agencies or the juvenile justice system are disproportionately more likely to have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Without proper screening procedures, these children can unfortunately move through the system without receiving the specialized care they need. Children who are at risk of becoming victimized may also be ignored, which potentially puts them in harm’s way.  These are concerns that we can and must address.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure that Pennsylvania’s youth receive the care and protection they deserve.