WHEN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS IN NEW MEXICO, THERE WILL BE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF TO HELP THEM SPOT SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE. IT’S AN ENDEAVOR LED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL HECTOR BALDERAS, WHO SAYS THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE TRAINING AVAILABLE TO AS MANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL AS POSSIBLE.
THE PROGRAM IS A RESPONSE TO THE RECENT CASE IN ALBUQUERQUE OF A SEVEN-YEAR OLD GIRL ALLEGEDLY PROSTITUTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS. BALDERAS SAYS THE SCHOOL NURSE WHO ALERTED AUTHORITIES TO THE ABUSE HAD BEEN TRAINED BY HIS OFFICE TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING.
