Starting conversations about human trafficking is not always easy. But accurate information is a powerful and necessary catalyst for change. That’s why we started our Human Trafficking 101 (HT101) training—to provide essential education about a topic that so often stays hidden in the shadows.
Our HT101 presentations equip individuals and communities with the knowledge they need to understand what human trafficking is, why it happens, and how it shows up both globally and locally. Our educators also share practical guidance to help people recognize potential trafficking warning signs so they can respond in informed, meaningful ways.
If you’re interested in scheduling an HT101 presentation from our team for your organization, we’d love to hear from you.
Why Education is Vital
When it comes to commercial sexual exploitation, awareness is a key part of both response and prevention. Many people do not understand the complexities of human trafficking, so education is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight to stop this exploitation.
It’s easy to assume trafficking is rare or only happens in distant places. The reality is that it occurs far more often and much closer to home than most people realize.
In Texas alone, researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of individuals have experienced human trafficking, including both labor and sex trafficking, with tens of thousands of minors affected by sex trafficking. While the exact number of victims is difficult to measure due to the hidden nature of this crime, Texas consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for reported trafficking cases.
READ: Human Trafficking: 7 Statistics You Need to Know
The numbers are hard to ignore. The more we present on this topic, the more we’re reminded that human trafficking is increasing—even as many cases still go unreported.
When we understand the real factors that lead to human trafficking, we can better understand why so many individuals unexpectedly find themselves trapped in this life.
Because this industry is always growing and evolving, it is vital to share information with the community as traffickers change tactics, move to different areas, and target certain vulnerable groups of people.
Human trafficking education isn’t just vital for the general public—it’s essential for survivors as well. Fewer than 1% of survivors are ever identified, and many people don’t realize that the circumstances they’re facing meet the definition of trafficking. As a result, they often go without the support and protection they need. Increasing awareness helps close this gap, so more survivors can be recognized, reached, and supported.
Replacing Myth with Truth
Many people have heard the term “human trafficking” and are rightly concerned. But when we approach this issue with misconceptions, our understanding becomes clouded, and we miss the opportunity to address its root causes.
That’s why our team is committed to education—transforming the fear, mystery, and confusion surrounding this topic into informed, meaningful action. Here are two common myths we work to dispel in our presentations:
Myth #1: Trafficking Means Sudden Kidnappings
Human trafficking typically doesn’t involve dramatic abductions by a stranger like it’s portrayed in the media.
More often, trafficking starts with grooming, a gradual process of building trust, creating dependency, and ultimately gaining control.
“Grooming” refers to a behavior an adult uses to get close to a child or teen with the intent of exploitation or abuse.
Online grooming can take many different forms, but there are a few common tactics to be aware of.
It often begins when a predator uses an online platform to gain access to and befriend a young person. This might look completely harmless at first—playing on the same gaming team, chatting about a favorite TV show in a forum, or offering help, like game advice or even in-game (or real-life) gifts to build trust and favor.
Many of these platforms allow for a level of anonymity. In online games, communication may happen through voice only, and on social media, entirely fake profiles can be created. This makes it easy for a predator to lie about their age, gender, or identity.
Once a connection is established in a more public space, the predator will often try to move the conversation to a more private or encrypted platform. For example, they may shift from a public game chat to one-on-one messaging. From there, the situation can escalate—through bribery, manipulation, or even threats—into sexual conversations, requests for explicit images or videos, or even attempts to arrange an in-person meeting.
Grooming relies on emotional connection and psychological coercion, not force. In other words, trafficking often begins with trust.
Without a clear understanding of the slow, calculated process that traffickers use, it’s easy to miss the warning signs and red flags that can appear in our own neighborhoods, schools, and relationships.
Myth #2: Men Aren’t Sex Trafficked
Another common misconception is that human trafficking only impacts women and girls, and that men and boys are not victims of sex trafficking.
In reality, men and boys are trafficked as well, but their experiences are often overlooked or missed entirely.
Male survivors are significantly underreported. Many assume that if men are trafficked, it is only for labor or that involvement in commercial sex must be voluntary. These assumptions are not only inaccurate, but they can also be harmful.
Like other forms of trafficking, the exploitation of men and boys often involves coercion, manipulation, and control, not choice. Traffickers exploit vulnerabilities such as homelessness, prior abuse, substance dependence, or a need for belonging, often using the same patterns of grooming and relational control.
Stigma also plays a powerful role. Cultural expectations around masculinity can make it difficult for male survivors to identify as victims or seek help, while many systems have historically been designed without them in mind.
As a result, male survivors are often hidden in plain sight—misidentified, underserved, and under protected.
Trafficking rarely looks the way we expect, but when we begin to understand how it actually happens, we are better equipped to recognize it, respond to it, and walk alongside those impacted with clarity and care.
What We Cover in HT101
Our speakers share clear, foundational information about what human trafficking is, along with common warning signs, red flags, and risk factors.
Some level of vulnerability always precedes an individual’s entry into the trap of commercial sexual exploitation, so we go over common risk factors such as bullying, low self-esteem, current or previous involvement in the child welfare system, or prior experiences with human trafficking. In addition, individuals who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, or food insecurity are also at a higher risk. Awareness of these factors helps community members recognize when someone may need support.
In our presentations, we also share some of the specific warning signs that concerned adults can watch out for to protect the teens and children in their lives. These include:
- Brands and/or tattoos that show they “belong” to a specific trafficker
- Large amounts of money that don’t align with a young person’s life circumstances
- Having an older “boyfriend”
- Suspicious/unexplained access to motel/hotel keys
- Using “street language” (the track, the life, caught a case)
- Truancy or frequent tardiness, declining grades, or falling asleep in class
- Hypervigilance about having access to their phone/phones (if they don’t answer, they get in trouble with their trafficker)
These are just a few examples, and we cover many more in our presentations.
HT101 also introduces audiences to The Landing as a way of informing them about the resources we provide. This helps survivors connect with our support directly, or through a referral from a loved one.
Educating the Youth
In 2022, we expanded our outreach within the Youth Advocacy Program by creating a Youth Advocacy Outreach Specialist role. This position was developed to bring Human Trafficking 101 and Internet Safety presentations directly into schools, with the goal of helping young people recognize warning signs, identify unsafe situations, and seek support earlier. We always tailor our presentations to be age-appropriate for different audiences.
A key goal of this work is not only education, but also creating opportunities for survivors to recognize their own experiences. Many young people may not fully understand what human trafficking is, which can make it difficult to identify what is happening to them.
At times, hearing one of our HT101 presentations has helped students bravely come forward and self-identify. In those cases, we create a safe space where youth can speak with us openly. From the beginning, we clearly communicate that we are mandated reporters so there are no surprises, and we explain how an agency like ours can support them. We always prioritize honesty from the start—because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that young people can quickly sense a lack of transparency, and for us, the most important first step is building trust.
Through these conversations, young people can connect with the support they need to begin healing. These moments reinforce the importance of education and show how knowledge can be a critical first step toward safety and recovery.
Request a Speaker
If you are interested in having The Landing give a Human Trafficking 101 Training to your organization, contact us using this form. We can adapt our presentation to suit the needs of the occasion, accommodate virtual or in person sessions, and work with flexible timeframes. If you are hosting a community or ministry fair, we welcome the opportunity to participate. Thanks for reaching out!
