The average age a child enters the underground commercial sex economy is 16, and many remain trapped in it for more than a decade, according to San Diego County education officials.
But the San Diego Unified School District is determined to change that trajectory.
The district recently announced sweeping new protections for students vulnerable to human trafficking, including updated reporting protocols and a formal partnership with a nonprofit, San Diego Youth Services. The changes represent what may be the nation’s most comprehensive district-level response to an issue that has long operated in the shadows.
At the helm is Farshad Talebi, executive director of the district’s Investigations, Compliance and Accountability Department. Talebi is a former prosecutor and national anti-trafficking leader with a decade-plus track record of dismantling exploitation networks.
Talebi believes districts are uniquely positioned for early intervention because they are often the first to see warning signs.
“Our goal is to make sure once awareness is raised, there’s a clear plan in place,” Talebi said. “If a student reaches out or a red flag is identified, we know exactly what to do next.”
The new initiative establishes a centralized online reporting system for students, families and staff to submit concerns. Specially trained district investigators and school police review reports, referring cases as needed to the California Department of Justice-backed county Human Trafficking Task Force — a crucial resource in one of the nation’s busiest trafficking corridors.
The FBI ranks San Diego as the 13th highest-intensity trafficking area in the country due to its border proximity. Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or exploitation of a person for labor or commercial sex through force, fraud or coercion. Much of its cruelty lies in how often it goes unseen.
“Most of the time, even minors don’t identify as victims,” Talebi said. “So you’re not getting a disclosure the way you might with other forms of abuse.”
That’s why the district is training staff to recognize subtle warning signs: chronic absenteeism, sudden behavioral changes or an older boyfriend picking a student up from school. The approach emphasizes compassion rather than confrontation.
“We want staff to focus on needs, build trust and know how to report concerns so the appropriate team can respond,” Talebi said.
Trust is particularly difficult for trafficking victims. Many are in relationships with their exploiters or fear the consequences of speaking up.
“There’s an element of control,” Talebi said. “We don’t want students to feel that if they confide in one of our employees, things are going to be out of their hands.”
That’s where the partnership with San Diego Youth Services becomes critical. The organization offers mental health counseling, advocacy, case management and educational programs, including a healthy relationship class that addresses power dynamics and exploitation without labeling students as victims.
The district’s police force also plays a distinct role, with officers trained to prioritize student safety over enforcement. When investigations are needed, the county Human Trafficking Task Force — which brings in its own victim advocates — takes the lead using a trauma-informed approach.
“How questions are asked can be just as important as what is asked,” Talebi said.
For students navigating these systems, the clarity of protocols can make all the difference.
“When students know where to go and what will happen next, they are more likely to speak up,” said Alina Nguyen, student trustee on the district’s Board of Education. “Clear reporting options help students feel safer and remind us that our voices matter.”
Ashley Ordaz, another student trustee, added: “These updates make it easier for students to ask for help, for themselves or for a friend, without fear or confusion.”
Talebi recognizes this charge requires sustained commitment and the confrontation of uncomfortable truths about demand.
“Adolescent males are a huge opportunity to change the culture around sex buying,” he said. “It’s become normalized — like purchasing something on Amazon — and if there weren’t buyers, there wouldn’t be victims.”
While specific programming doesn’t exist yet, Talebi sees educating male youth before harmful behaviors normalize as essential for long-term prevention.
California was the first state to require human trafficking prevention education under AB 1227, which became law in 2019. San Diego Unified’s approach is a model for operating beyond basic compliance with the law. After researching nationwide programs, Talebi said they haven’t found similar school district initiatives.
“I don’t want to say no one else is doing anything like this, but we aren’t aware,” he said.
The district’s push builds on years of county-level groundwork. In 2019, the district attorney’s office and county superintendent of schools formed a public-private collaborative to expand human trafficking education and prevention training in public schools.
The following year, the San Diego County Office of Education received $575,207 as one of eight beneficiaries of a nationwide $4.3 million federal Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education Demonstration Program.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said the district’s efforts reflect a broader regional commitment. She called prevention through education “a critical step in protecting our young students.”
“We know from experience that traffickers are recruiting our kids right in our schools, often using young recruiters to deceive and manipulate young kids and teens into a life of exploitation and pain. Providing education in schools and clear reporting protocols helps our effort to reach every student and keep them safe from those who would sexually exploit them for profit,” Stephan added.
Talebi shares that sense of urgency. For him, the work is personal and persistent.
“I know what needs to be done and I’m in a position to help protect students,” he said. “It would be hard for me to go home at night and say it’s not my role.”
Success will depend on identifying vulnerable students early, before exploitation occurs, rather than simply tallying confirmed cases.
“If students believe the adults around them will respond with care and consistency, that’s when we can change outcomes,” Talebi said. “As a parent, I want to know the schools in this district really understand how to protect students.”
Staff training on the new protocols began in February, with additional education for students and families to follow. Community town halls are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 18 at University City High School and 5:30 p.m. March 19 at Lincoln High School.
More information is available on the district’s Human Trafficking Prevention Program website.
City News Service contributed to this article.
