CSEC TRAINING SCUSD Counselors Meeting May 13, 2014

What We’re Going To Cover What is SEM/CSEC? Who Is At Risk? Red Flags/Warning Signs Case Study What To Do If You Suspect Dos and Don’ts Resources District Community Based Q & A

What Is CSEC/SEM?

 CSEC = Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Sexual activity involving a child in exchange for something of value, or promise thereof, to the child or another person or persons; The child is treated as a commercial and sexual object; CSEC is a form of violence against children

CSEC includes, but is not limited to the following: Street Prostitution Pornography Stripping Erotic/nude massages Escort services Phone Sex Lines Private parties Gang-based prostitution Interfamilial pimping Forms of internet-based exploitation

Who Is At Risk?

 The greatest risk factor is age  Avg age of entry into prostitution is yrs old  Youth who have a history of abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual)  Parental drug use  Children who runaway  Studies show that by the 3 rd time a child runs away there is an 85% chance of becoming a victim of sex-trafficking  Children who have a history of CPS involvement  Numerous foster care placements  History of being in the Juvenile Justice System Sources: Shared Hope International, The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex-Trafficking and the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), Sexually Exploited Children & Teens

 Young people may be:  Tricked into exploiting themselves through promises of gifts or money  Seduced into exploitation by a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”  Manipulated or threatened by their trafficker  Physically forced into exploitation and may be beaten, raped and/or assaulted Sources: Shared Hope International, The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex-Trafficking and the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), Sexually Exploited Children & Teens

Red Flags: What To Look For

 Attendance Issues  Excessive tardiness, skipping classes, sleeping in class  Involvement w/ older male or female  May be signed out of school by non-family members  Foster Youth or Homeless Youth  History of chronic AWOLs or running way  Poor grades/drop in grades  Drug and/or alcohol use  Bragging about the life, making money, has new things

I Suspect… Now What?

 Call CPS or Law Enforcement… You are a mandated reporter  Contact the district’s Safe Schools Office  Contact Youth Development Support Service s What can I do on campus?  Raise awareness – talk about risks  Engage with young people  Provide safe space for young people to talk with adults  Utilize Expanded Learning supplemental partners for additional supports  Provide gender specific supports for girls and boys  Provide training for staff and students  Ask questions! ”

How we got started doing this work…..  Background  Mentoring/Advocacy  Law Enforcement Contacts  Coaching and technical assistance for social workers and counselors  Street Outreach to locate missing children  Referrals to trauma informed mental health supports  Survivor led resources for youth and parents  Professional Development for administrators, teachers and other school site staff members  STREAT TEAM: Students Together Reducing Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking “Youth who experience sexual abuse are “twenty-eight times more likely to be arrested for prostitution at some point in their lives than children who [did] not.”

Do’s and Don’ts

DO……..  Provide a safe place for engagement  Be nonjudgemental when listening  Work to build trust  Pay attention to your body language  Keep physical contact to a minimum  Be familiar with street language/slang that the youth might use  Use appropriate language and terms; be sensitive to a child/youths experience as a victim  Recognize the various symptoms of trauma  Recognize the child/youth as a victim

DON’T……..  Rely on stereotypes to identify/engage with SEM  React verbally or physically in a way that communicates discomfort or disgust  Expect immediate gratitude for your efforts  Act/appear to be distracted, disinterested or disapproving  Try to use street language/slang out of context when talking with the youth  Use inappropriate language or derogatory terms when discussing the youth’s experience  Expect the youth to identify themselves as victims

Contact Us Children’s Protective Services (916) 875-KIDS Stacey Bell, Youth Development Support Services, Director Aliya Holmes, Foster Youth Services, Coordinator Cailey Bronny, Mentor/Advocate