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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    What is Child Exploitation?

    Child exploitation manifests in various ways, impacting youth regardless of age, race, location, or socioeconomic background. Victims can be targeted at schools, in their communities, or through online and social media channels. Online child sexual exploitation encompasses a wide array of criminal activities aimed at minors for sexual gratification or other personal and financial benefits. This includes the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming, sextortion, and self-harm. The consequences of child exploitation can be both immediate and lasting, leading to significant health issues and psychological and physical trauma.

    Signs of Child Abuse

    The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services lays out signs of physical abuse, mental abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse. 

    Signs of Human Trafficking in Youth

    • Rarely leaving the house
    • Living apart from family or having limited social contact with friends and family
    • Living somewhere inappropriate, like a work address or cramped, unhygienic or overcrowded accommodation, including caravans, sheds, tents or outbuildings
    • Being seen in inappropriate places (for example factories or brothels)
    • Having their movements controlled or being unable to travel on their own
    • Lacking personal items
    • Consistently wearing the same clothes
    • Not being registered with a school or a GP practice
    • Having money or things you wouldn’t expect them to have
    • Being moved by others between specific locations (e.g. to and from work), which may happen at unusual times such as very early in the day or at night
    • Being unsure, unable, or reluctant to give details such as where they live
    • Fearful or withdrawn behaviour
    • Being involved in gang activity
    • Being involved in the consumption, sale or trafficking of drugs
    • Having their communication controlled by somebody else and acting as though they are being instructed by another person
    • Tattoos or other marks indicating ownership
    • Physical ill health, looking unkempt or malnourished
    • Physical injury, including the kinds of injuries you might get from a workplace
    • Reluctance to seek help, avoidance of strangers, being fearful or hostile towards authorities
    • Providing a prepared story (which might be similar to stories given by other children) or struggling to recall experiences
    • Inconsistent accounts of their experiences

    Report Child Abuse to ChildLine

    ChildLine is part of a mandated statewide child protective services program designed to accept child abuse referrals and general child well-being concerns, and transmit the information quickly to the appropriate investigating agency.

    Report Abuse

    Report Suspected Human Trafficking of a Child

    The information you provide will be reviewed by the Trafficking Hotline. You may have the option to provide information confidentially and/or remain anonymous. However, Trafficking Hotline staff are mandated reporters. This means that if you share information about a person 17 or under who is being harmed or about anyone in immediate danger, and you share your name, address, or anything to identify you, we reserve the right to report that information and the situation to the police and/or CPS.

    Report Trafficking of a Child