Ending the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children - California ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

trauma, seems especially relevant to efforts to meet theneeds of victims of trafficking. Several jurisdictions acrossthe country have expanded the definition of child abuse andneglect to include CSE in order to address the needs of theseyouth in the child welfare system. These jurisdictions haveused aspects of each of the approaches discussed above, thePublic Health Model (PHM), Stages of Change Model (SCM),and the Harm Reduction Model (HRM), to improve theservices they provide, and the manner in which they applyStudies show that overhalf, and sometimesas many as eighty-fivepercent, of the victims ofCSE have a history withthe child welfare system.them.ConnecticutConnecticut’s child welfare agency is one of the forerunners of the movement towards preventionand early intervention. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (CDCF) nowscreens every child who enters its system for CSE, and has developed practice guidelines fordealing with victims of CSE. 177 CDCF has trained abuse hotline staff to accept reports of CSE 178and is tracking this population in its child welfare data system. CDCF has established protocols tocoordinate care for youth suspected of being victims of CSE. 179Once a child is identified as (or is suspected of being) a CSE victim, he or she receives anassessment, care plan, and referral, as appropriate. The health care assessment includes physical,sexual, and substance abuse, and a screen for additional issues common among CSE victims. 180An emergency room protocol has also been established in order to expedite examinations andreporting for suspected victims. Many of the assessment procedures are initiated within the firstseventy-two hours after identification—a window one day shorter than the response required forother CDCF clients. 181CDCF’s approach is comprehensive. Services include development of short and long-termcare plans and placement with trained providers. CDCF also administers assessments forplacement and mental health and provides additional support services such as communityservices for mentoring, safety planning, personal development for job and life skills, and programsfor family and significant others. 182 These assessments are administered by a member of theHuman Trafficking Clinical Team, comprised of licensed clinicians to better address victims’needs from a trauma-informed perspective. 183 In its safety plans, CDCF incorporates elements30 | Chapter 4: Intervention
of the harm reduction model to lessen the adverse impacts on youth who relapse. The HumanTrafficking Liaison in each region monitors potential CSE cases for ninety days to “track themandatory forensic, mental health, medical and general DCF issues” for each youth. 184To improve sensitivity to the needs of human trafficking victims, CDCF has trained fosterparents and caseworkers in care facilities and other therapeutic settings on warning signsof trafficking, its dangers and risks, and ways of facilitating engagement with the youth. 185Unfortunately, there is still a shortage of appropriate placements for youth who are victims ofCSE. To fill that void, CDCF has established two emergency beds for girls and young women whoare victims of trafficking and in need of immediate placement. 186 CDCF is also in the process ofestablishing licensed placements that are tailored to the needs of victims of CSE. 187Promoting awareness of CSE has garnered additional support, resources, and partnershipsto provide services for victims of trafficking in Connecticut’s child welfare system. CDCF hasworked with community providers to train judges, court staff, nurses, doctors, law enforcement,and teachers. The department is educating its own staff using a three-day certification program toraise awareness, increase understanding about the perpetrators, and implement trauma-informedpractices using the Stages of Change Model. 188 Educating first responders and agencies about CSEfacilitates identification and linking to service and support interventions. To further assist in thereferral effort, Connecticut law requires police to report to CDCF when a child is detained on aprostitution or prostitution-related offense. 189 To increase access to services for youth, CDCF, alongwith its partners, are developing an online resource guide that will be available on CDCF’s website. 190CDCF uses aspects of each intervention model to better serve CSEC. It has integrated theStages of Change model into its certification curriculum to better understand and treat the youths’needs at various points in theirrecovery. By providing safetyplanning, CDCF is incorporatingelements of the Harm ReductionModel to minimize furtherharm that may occur if a youthrelapses to the street. Throughdata collection and informationgathered from the healthCalifornia Child Welfare Council | 31
Page 6 and 7: We commend the members of the CSEC
Page 8 and 9: AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks are
Page 11 and 12: and track progress. The United Stat
Page 13 and 14: IntroductionEvery day of the year,
Page 15 and 16: Several months later, police found
Page 17 and 18: Prevalence of CommerciallySexually
Page 19 and 20: foster care. A study of Los Angeles
Page 21 and 22: now subject to prosecution in the U
Page 23 and 24: if a girl brings $800 back after a
Page 25 and 26: Despite growing recognition of thep
Page 27 and 28: directly recruit girls from these s
Page 29 and 30: Reflecting this gender distinction,
Page 31 and 32: conditioned to distrust law enforce
Page 33 and 34: avoid law enforcement involvement,
Page 35 and 36: Whereas other models focus on patie
Page 37: in the media; and community factors
Page 41 and 42: CSEC through trauma-informed practi
Page 43 and 44: twenty-five youth each. 217 The STA
Page 45 and 46: hall. The workshop meets once a wee
Page 47 and 48: In order to provide a continuum of
Page 49 and 50: Connecticut, California, Minnesota,
Page 51 and 52: Sexual Exploitation.” 291 The pro
Page 53 and 54: LegislationAs human trafficking has
Page 55 and 56: And, the minor’s consent to explo
Page 57 and 58: DecriminalizationDecriminalization
Page 59 and 60: 1. No previous adjudication for eng
Page 61 and 62: excess of their tax liability to th
Page 63 and 64: The recommendations set forth below
Page 65 and 66: IdentificationNeedsDepending on the
Page 67 and 68: InterventionRecommendations (Contin
Page 69 and 70: LegislationNeedsThere are policies
Page 71 and 72: In addition to the CSEC Action Comm
Page 73 and 74: youth-radio-trafficked-teen-girls-d
Page 75 and 76: Approach To Human Trafficking, 89 N
Page 77 and 78: 305. Human Trafficking in Californi
Page 79 and 80: APPENDIX AGUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYIN
Page 81 and 82: APPENDIX AGUIDELINES FOR ENGAGING C
Page 83 and 84: APPENDIX A■ ■■ ■“Do you f
Page 85 and 86: APPENDIX AWHAT YOUTH SAY WORKSMost
Page 87 and 88: APPENDIX BStage of Change: Pre-Cont
Page 89 and 90:
APPENDIX BStage of Change: Action
Page 91 and 92:
APPENDIX CInterventions: Models for
Page 93 and 94:
APPENDIX CDistrict Attorney’s off
Page 95 and 96:
APPENDIX C15. Shelby French, Execut
Page 97 and 98:
APPENDIX DSTREAT TeamIn California,
Page 100:
California ChildWelfare Council
show all

Ending the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children - California ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?