Is it advantageous for the child trafficking victim to be placed with local Child Protective Services?
Most social service providers are required to report any suspicion of child abuse and neglect. Federal law enforcement involvement notwithstanding, it would be incumbent on social workers to report to local child protection authorities whenever they come into contact with a child they suspect to be abused or neglected. There are pros and cons for the child to enter the local child welfare system. Child Protective Services (CPS) is usually able to place a child on short notice in a licensed foster home. In the period immediately after a child has been identified until she or he is referred by federal law enforcement to ORR, this may be the best and only option for shelter for a trafficked child. However, in the long term, there will be no guarantee that the child will be granted special attention to cultural and linguistic needs or the intensive and specialized services provided by a URM program. Moreover, the CPS system may not be equipped to deal with the complexities of a trafficking
