In 2023, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 18,400 reports of possible child sex trafficking, and one in six of the more than 28,800 cases of children reported missing to NCMEC in 2023 were likely victims of child sex trafficking. The New Jersey Human Trafficking Prevention Guidelines note that no child is immune to being targeted, but some students are more vulnerable, such as youth identifying as LGBTQ, migrant youth, students with disabilities, students with mental or behavioral health issues, homeless youth, transfer students, and those involved in the child welfare system.