C. Risk Factors

1. Indicators

Children and youth who run away or experience foster care are at a higher risk of commercial sexual exploitation.^[272] According to the Office of the Texas Attorney General, potential indicators (or “red flags”) that a child may be a trafficking victim include:

•   Changes in school attendance, habits, friend groups, vocabulary, demeanor, and attitude;

•   Sudden appearance of luxury items — e.g., manicures, designer clothes, purses;

•   Truancy (absence) from school;

•   Sexually provocative clothing;

•   Tattoos or branding;

•   Refillable gift cards;

•   Missing Events;

•   Multiple phones or social media accounts;

•   Lying about the existence of social media accounts;

•   Inappropriate pictures posted online or stored on the phone;

•   Unexplained injuries;

•   Social interaction and schedule being strictly controlled by someone else; and/or

•   Isolation from family, friends, and community.^[273]

2. Screening

All children must receive a developmentally appropriate comprehensive assessment not later than the 45th day after the date a child enters the conservatorship of DFPS. The assessment must include a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation using a validated, evidence-informed tool selected by the child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit established under Tex. Gov't. Code § 772.0062 if:

•   Validation guidelines based on the child's age indicate the screening is appropriate; or

•   Concerns of commercial sexual exploitation exist. Tex. Fam. Code § 266.012(a)(2).

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT) is a tool used across the state to screen for commercial sexual exploitation. For more information, see the Office of the Texas Governor CSE-IT Tool^[274] or Texas CASA CSE-IT Guidebook.^[275]