When a child in an open investigation is identified as a victim or suspected victim of trafficking, the investigator must do the following:

• Document the child’s trafficking victimization status in IMPACT.
• Refer to appropriate services as needed.

Determining Whether a Trafficking Event Is Suspected-Unconfirmed or Confirmed

A trafficking event is Suspected-Unconfirmed when specific information regarding the child and the surrounding circumstances creates a reasonable belief the child has been trafficked.

A trafficking event is Confirmed when evidence supports the conclusion the child has been trafficked. Note: The supporting evidence must be more than just an allegation or suspicion but does not have to be a direct outcry from the child.

Documenting a Trafficking Event in IMPACT

When a child is Suspected-Unconfirmed or Confirmed to be a victim of sex or labor trafficking, the investigator must enter a trafficking event in IMPACT on the Tracking Detail page within 48 hours of suspecting or confirming the child’s victim status.

The investigator must add each Suspected-Unconfirmed or Confirmed sex or labor trafficking event into IMPACT as a trafficking event on the Trafficking Detail page.

Each trafficking event should only have one entry on the Trafficking Detail page. If a Suspected-Unconfirmed event is later confirmed, that event would have both a Suspected-Unconfirmed and a Confirmed event listed.

Corresponding Dispositions with Suspected-Unconfirmed or Confirmed Victims of Trafficking

If a sex or labor trafficking allegation results in a disposition of Reason to Believe or Unable to Determine,there must be a corresponding trafficking event entered into IMPACT on the Trafficking Detail page.

Trafficking events may be entered into IMPACT on the Trafficking Detail page without a corresponding allegation if the sex or labor trafficking allegation is investigated by a different agency or DFPS program.

Referral to Services for Child Sex or Labor Trafficking

When a child in an open investigation has been identified as a Confirmed or Suspected-Unconfirmed victim of trafficking, the investigator must refer the child to appropriate services, as available on the Human Trafficking Resources page of the DFPS website. The caseworker documents the referrals in a contact in IMPACT.

Notifying the Caseworker of a Child in DFPS Conservatorship

The investigator notifies a child’s caseworker when both of the following are true:

• Child in an open investigation has been identified as a Confirmed or Suspected-Unconfirmed victim of trafficking
• Investigator has determined that the child is in the conservatorship of DFPS.

The child’s caseworker determines appropriate resources for referral.