In response to the increasing awareness of juvenile trafficking by both system and community-based child welfare partners in Delaware, the state led an initiative in 2014 to create a protocol guiding the “best practice” response to these investigations. To accomplish this, the state examined the child welfare response to prior juvenile trafficking cases, engaged in open dialogue between system partners about existing policies and practices, and consulted with other jurisdictions nationwide. As a result, Delaware drafted its first Juvenile Trafficking Protocol, which is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Response to Child Abuse and Neglect. Subsequent updates to the Protocol have been made based upon continued observation and examination of system responses to these cases, thereby working to improve possible outcomes for trafficked youth.

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