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National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference July 13, 2008 Kansas City Convention Center

National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference July 13, 2008 Kansas City Convention Center. Commercially Sexually Exploited Minors: Best Practices County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Alameda County, California. “ He’d say if I left him, he would kill me”.

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National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference July 13, 2008 Kansas City Convention Center

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  1. National Association of Counties (NACo)Annual ConferenceJuly 13, 2008 Kansas City Convention Center Commercially Sexually Exploited Minors: Best Practices County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Alameda County, California

  2. “ He’d say if I left him, he would kill me” "We're seeing a lot more of these cases where sexually exploited children are just being farmed out on these streets," Oakland Police Department s

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  4. Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSECs) in the United States • Any child under the age of 18 that is used for the purpose of exploitation through sexual servitude, regardless of the absence of economic leverage, manipulation, fraud, coercion, threats, force and violence is considered a commercially sexually exploited child (CSEC) under the law Source: Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) 2000, (Public Law 106-386) MISSSEY Inc., Presentation 2008

  5. How many children are at risk nationally? • In a study done by the University of Pennsylvania and National Institute of Justice, it was estimated that approximately 200,000 youth are “at risk” of being commercially sexually exploited annually. • These include runaway, “thrown away” and homeless youth R.J. Estes, PhD, University of Pennsylvania Social Policy & Practices, “Myths Associated with the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children,” 2007 Presentation

  6. How extensive is CSEC in the US? • While no single data source exists, based on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) CyberTipline there were almost 300,000 tips reported regarding child sexual exploitation between 1998-2004.Jay Albanese, PHD, “Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: What Do We Know and What Do We Do About It?, National Institute of Justice (NJI) Dec. 07 Year Tips Reported to NCMEC • 4,578 • 9,673 • 19,276 • 24,460 • 43,097 • 81,987 • 112,017 “1 out of 3 teens on the streets will be lured toward prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home*” * The Lost Child, Runaway Child Website www.lostchild.net, 05/24/03

  7. 2002-03 Snapshot of SEMs in Alameda County • 218 Minors known to Oakland Police Department (OPD) as being involved in prostitution • 185 Minors with sexual exploitation as “peripheral issue” as tracked by OPD Youth Services • 58 Minors reporting involvement in prostitution to OUSD School Attendance Review Board (SARB) • 67Minors introduced to or approached about prostitution by adults or other peers, as self-reported to SARB • 12 Average cases per month involving exploited youth seen by Alameda County Juvenile Court Commissioners NOTE: Data presented does not capture the actual number of sexually exploited youth as much is dependent upon youth’s self disclosure and circumstances upon arrest. Nor does it include the number of SEMs/CSECS who have not had contact with the police or other authorities and are unidentified.

  8. Snapshot of what we’ve learned since then: Sampling of 149 CSECs / SEMsAug ‘06-Sept ’07 • 98% female; average age 15.5 years old with a previous history of trauma and neglect. • Fourteen different ethnicities were represented • 82% of the participants have run away from home one or more times • 61% had been raped one or more times—the average age at first rape was 11 years and 2 months old. • 55% were foster care youth from group homes • 82% had previously run away from home multiple times • 60% had been arrested for solicitation • 58% were currently on probation • 25% had been hospitalized at least once for a mental illness or episode. N.Brantley, MISSSEY INC, 2008 Assessment Report

  9. Sexually Abused Commercially Exploited / Safe Place Alternative Program (SACEY/SPA) • 300 referrals since 7/06 • Over 200 referrals from 7/07-3/08. • Over 140 SEMs assessed • 1,700 points of contact through outreach • Over 2000 individuals receiving training, information regarding the issue. SACEY/SPA : City of Oakland, Alameda County and Non Profit Youth Serving Organizations Joint Partnership

  10. Alameda County’s Response to Sexually Exploited Minors (SEMs) • May-June, 2002 AC Interagency Children’s Policy Council (ICPC) Executive Committee requests that the Minors in Prostitution (MIP**) Task Force be convened to address the following: • Steady and alarming increase of commercial child sexual exploitation reported by Juvenile Courts, Law Enforcement, Social Workers, Educators and Community Providers. • Lack of consistent cross-system assessment instruments, intake procedures, case management practices, and transitional supports. • Lack of information / data related to sexually exploited minors with the County and the Bay Area. Note: ** As the County's awareness grew, MIP was later renamed SEM / Sexually Exploited Minors

  11. Timeline • June ’02 First convening with County, City and Community Partners. • Jul-Dec ’02 Conducted informational interviews, focus groups, and surveys; convened subcommittees. Connected with Center for Ending Adolescent Sexual Exploitation(CEASE) in Atlanta, GA, Children of the Night in Van Nuys, CA and End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT) in NY, NY. • Mar ‘03 Countywide Conference held: “Profiles in Vulnerability,”Part I: Understanding, Reaching and Supporting Sexually Exploited Youth. • Apr–Jun ’03 Trainings for Group Home Providers, Foster-Kinship Care Providers and Community Mental Health Staff. • Sept ’03 “Profiles in Vulnerability” Part II: A Legal Perspective Conference held.

  12. Timeline Continued • Oct ’03 Minors in Prostitution Task Force Final Report completed. • Nov-Dec ’03 Report presentations; name changed from “MIP” to SEM / Sexually Exploited Minors • Jan –Dec ’04 Continued Countywide trainings and information sharing, outreach to systems/CBO providers and community members; increased communication with San Francisco and Contra Costa Counties; (2) Group Homes with SEM focus opened; Gender specific programs established within Juvenile Hall; Pilot for S.E. Asian girls via Asian Health Services launched; Youth media strategy events in Oakland & S.F.

  13. Sexually Exploited Minors Network • Jan ’05 SEM Network partnership formalized between Community Base Providers, AC District Attorney, City of Oakland, Oakland Police Department and AC ICPC. • Jan’06 ICPC on behalf of the SEM Network applies and receives funding thought the City of Oakland to launch the Sexually Abused Commercially Exploited / Safe Place Alternative Program (SACEY/SPA). Informal and formal protocols developed with Law Enforcement, Probation and Social Services and the newly developed Presence established throughout the Tri-County Area. • Presentation made to the CA State Commission on the Status of Women; recommendations adopted and distributed to State Senate and Legislature. As of 2008, the SEM Network has 10 Community Providers and 6 Systems partners at the table and is seeking to become an independent 501-C under the name SEMRISE Sexually Exploited Minors Reclaiming Innocence & Stemming the Epidemic

  14. Alameda County Proclamation: Beginning in 2006, each year the fourth week of April is declared Sexually Exploited Minors Awareness Week

  15. Safe House • May 2007 First Safe House Committee Planning Committee Convened Research conducted regarding “best practices. • September-October 2007 Safe House Property Identified within unincorporated Alameda County Party of AC and SEM Network Representatives travel to Van Nuys, CA to visit Children of the Night facility and meet with founder, Lois Lee, PhD.

  16. Where we are now • January 2008 to present Safe House Activities • Memorandum of Understanding was secured between property owner and Alameda County Counsel. • County “matched” City of Oakland Challenge Grant of 225k. • Public system funding commitments have been made. • Business Plan completed and presented to Leadership. • Draft design plans provided by pro-bono architect “floated”. • County feasibility plan to be launched. • Private foundation/philanthropic resources being identified. • Begin construction and open 2009-10 (estimated timeline).

  17. Identified property

  18. Design Concept

  19. Proposed and Alternate Floor Plans

  20. SAFE HOUSE Planning Framework Our Definition of “Safe House” • A specialized placement for victims of sexual exploitation with youth-centered services intended to provide short-term* emergency crisis-intervention and protect youth from harm. Excerpted from Alameda County Sexually Exploited Minors Network Working document “Alameda County Sexually Exploited Minors Safe House Report and Recommendations 2007” by Charles Go PhD. * 12-16 months

  21. All minors who experience any form of sexual exploitation are victims and NOT criminals, regardless of how they present when they come in contact with the System. Cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution is not a condition for placement. The Safe House is a safe and supportive environment where youth can meet their basic physical needs and address their social needs to effectively make positive changes in their lives. As SEM youth have experienced multiple levels of trauma, all services and policies must reflect this fact. Youth can be placed in the Safe House regardless of their ability to pay. Sexual and cultural diversity are honored. Some Guiding Principles

  22. What we know from current practice • Stabilization of SEM youth increases the likelihood of effective placements, completion of probation period, reinstatement into school and reconnection to the community. “Three quarters of our job is supporting placement— assisting youth to make it work, to stay in placement.” ~SACeY/SPA Staff

  23. Youth Outcomes • Reduction (through prevention and educational outreach) of recidivism through stabilization—slowing down the entry and exit from the system. • Many youth who receive SACEY/SPA services have better outcomes when they re-enter the system, as they are better prepared/oriented to receive services and stay in placement

  24. Value added to the Systems:Systemic changes through practice Probation: • SEMs/CSEC’s receiving services at Juvenile Hall, often within the 48 window before their hearing; • SACEY/SPA staff working directly with in-take, placement and Juvenile Institutional Officers; • Providing prevention groups 2-3 times a week in the Girls Units; • Connecting with therapeutic services staff. • Working in concert with individual Probation Officers.

  25. Juvenile Court : SACEY/SPA staff are present during court proceeding and provide information Law Enforcement: Information and hands-on support for special operations, high profile cases, individual requests Social Services: Assessment Center Staff contacting SACEY/SPA staff weekly for information, placement consultation, TDMs and Case Conferencing. Other partners utilizing services/information, and building their own capacity in the process. As referrals come from all sectors of the system, day to day practice increases opportunities for coordination, more effective use of time and resources

  26. Fully implemented SEM specific service plans reduce the “recycling” of youth through the various systems. Creating a “Safe House” location and program builds on these positive outcomes. We are providing legitimate re-entry into the public system that they are missing from…” The Impact of Having a SEM/CSEC Responsive System

  27. Q & A

  28. For more information Contact : Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty’s Office (510) 272-6691 / (925) 551-6995 scott.haggerty@acgov.org AC Interagency Children’s Policy Council (ICPC) (510) 618-3457 / 618-3455 gary.thompson@acgov.org

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