Recognizing the serious problem caused by the human trafficking of children, the General Assembly amended the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act to include human trafficking as abuse. The General Assembly also amended the definition of “person responsible for the child’s welfare” to include the custodian of a child who commits or allows to be committed against the child “the offense of involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, or trafficking in persons for forced labor or services, as provided in Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012.” 325 ILCS 5/3.

Thereafter, the Department of Children and Family Services amended its Rules and Procedures to mirror the statutory definitions as well as to add two new human trafficking allegations in Rule 300 Appendix B, Child Abuse and Neglect Allegations 40 and 90.

In FY 12 the Department’s hot line received 72 calls of physical abuse of human trafficking of children of which 12 were indicated. The hot line received 31 calls of blatant disregard of human trafficking of children of which 2 were indicated.

In the Department’s efforts to guard the State’s youth from the dangers of human trafficking, the Department has a human trafficking coordinator who is responsible for collaborating with the FBI, local Sheriffs, law enforcement, the Cook County Public Guardian and University researchers. ■