• Feelings of Rejection or Marginalization – A study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (2008) found that fewer than 10% of the interviewed youth who had been commercially sexually exploited said they could turn to a parent if they found themselves in trouble. Youth in foster care who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender have reported harassment by other foster care youth, discomfort or rejection among foster parents or child welfare staff, and increased challenges accessing appropriate services.
• System Involvement – There are often prior histories of abuse, neglect, or delinquent behavior for youth involved in the child welfare, foster care, or the juvenile justice systems that heighten their vulnerability. These types of violence might be normalized, and the adults that are responsible for protecting these children may fail to intervene and stop these harmful behaviors. The resulting lack of trust in authority figures puts the youth at increased risk for recruitment.
• Mental Health Issues – Unresolved mental health issues can both put youth at risk and be a direct consequence of the traumatic experience of being trafficked.
• Unaccompanied Foreign Minors – Foreign national youth who are smuggled into the U.S. are at increased risk of being trafficked on their journey to the United States. Separation from parents leaves these minors without the usual safety nets that can prevent and respond to potential trafficking situations. Without these resources, these youth may not know where to find help or feel comfortable accessing it.
• Substance Abuse – Substance abuse, along with other high-risk behaviors, puts youth at risk for human trafficking. Anti-trafficking advocates have seen cases where addiction was used as a control mechanism by traffickers to coerce and force their victims into engaging in commercial sex against their will.
• Homelessness – As previously mentioned, NCMEC found that 1 in 6 runaway and homeless youth reported to NCMEC were likely victims of child sex trafficking. A study conducted by Safe Horizon of homeless youth in New York City found that 95% of homeless youth reported being sexually active and were more likely to engage in survival sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, or other necessities.
• Poverty – Poverty is closely linked to vulnerability. A lack of access to resources and income opportunities limits options for impoverished people, making them more susceptible to traffickers who prey on those needs.
• Prior Abuse or Neglect – Prior abuse or neglect heighten a child’s vulnerability to sex trafficking.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children, Youth and Families (September 2013) Guidance to States and Services on Addressing Human Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States (Washington, D.C.: DHHS, ACF) http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/acyf_human_trafficking_guidance.pdf.