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may be assisting with the prosecution of the traffickers, have family or friends in the region, be concerned about putting others at risk, or feel shame in their experiences. Advocates should connect with refugee service providers, which provide programs such as job skills training and placement, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, general life-skill courses, counseling, housing, and transportation assistance. If a victim of trafficking prefers to return to their country of origin, advocates should explore safety concerns and refer to an immigration attorney that can advise the victim about potential immigration remedies and other legal services. Advocates may assist the attorney in collecting important documentation, advocating for the victim’s rights, and supporting the victim throughout the process. 24 VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING UNDER THE AGE OF 18 Youth are at particular risk of trafficking victimization because they may be easily manipulated and exploited and usually have fewer sources for self-advocacy. Youth in greater risk of being trafficked may: Be victims of abuse prior to being trafficked Be homeless, a runaway, or neglected Be a member of a minority sexual orientation or gender identity community Be in foster care or otherwise involved in the child welfare system Lack a high school diploma/GED Have limited or no personal agency Lack identity documents or be undocumented Non-US citizen victims under the age of 18 who do not have a parent or guardian or who entered the United States with a parent or guardian, but could not remain with them, are eligible for services through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The program designates a legal authority to act in the place of the parent and ensures that the child receives services including foster care, English language training, career planning, health and mental health needs, socialization skills, adjustment training, family reunification, residential care, education or training, and Ethnic/religious preservation. Minors may also qualify for Asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Non-US citizen victims under the age of 18 are not required to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the trafficker to obtain visas or benefits. The Florida Abuse Hotline (1-800-962-2873) accepts calls regarding minors who are victims of trafficking. Advocates must report cases of trafficking of minors to the Florida Abuse Hotline. 24 25 VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING FROM ISOLATED AND INSULATED COMMUNITIES “Everybody just kind of minded their own business in a small town. In that silence of everybody minding their own business—I spent 13 years of my childhood being sex trafficked.” —Human Trafficking Survivor Trafficking flourishes when it goes unnoticed. Many members of rural communities may assume that trafficking exists only in urban areas, which perpetuates the invisibility of human trafficking and encourages an environment where people do not question the signs of trafficking that may exist in the community. Moreover, in rural areas, jobs and financial resources are often scarce, social services are unavailable or inadequate, and victims must travel further distances to access services. Victims of trafficking in rural areas may be geographically isolated from law enforcement and other governmental agencies that can investigate human trafficking. Certified domestic violence centers in rural communities may have to travel outside their communities to identify and develop relationships with potential referral sources. The Refugee Task Force, legal aid and legal services offices, migrant worker advocacy networks, and rural health networks are examples of entities that can help centers with this process. Military bases can also be prime locations for trafficking because of the structure of command and the insulated community instilled on a base. A large number of women have been trafficked to US military bases to work in the sex industries in communities surrounding bases.20 Centers serving the communities surrounding military bases should build on established working relationships with representatives from the military bases to develop coordinated