Specialty Practice Sections Webinar: A Social Work Perspective on the Foster Care-to-Trafficking Pipeline

Presenter:  Adam McCormick, PhD, MSSW

CEs:  1.5 Social Work contact hours

Youth in foster care face disproportionately high rates of trafficking vulnerability due to experiences of trauma, placement instability, homelessness, congregate care placement, and disrupted attachment. This workshop explores how systemic failures within child welfare can unintentionally create pathways into exploitation, with a particular focus on the heightened risks faced by LGBTQ+ youth. Drawing from qualitative research with foster care alumni and survivors of trafficking, participants will examine how rejection, disconnection, institutionalization, and unmet belonging needs increase vulnerability while identifying trauma-informed and affirming strategies that promote safety, permanency, and healing.

 Objectives:

• Examine how trauma, placement instability, congregate care, and disrupted attachment contribute to trafficking vulnerability among youth in foster care, particularly LGBTQ+ youth.
• Apply trauma-informed and affirming social work practices that strengthen safety, belonging, permanency, and protective factors for youth involved in child welfare systems.
• Evaluate social work policy and practice strategies aimed at reducing reliance on congregate care and disrupting pathways from foster care to exploitation, homelessness, and criminalization.

Cost: SPS Members: Free / Non-SPS NASW Members: $25 / Non-NASW Member: $40

Registration:  A Social Work Perspective on the Foster Care-to-Trafficking Pipeline