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Q&A
ACS trauma-informed care and evaluation processes for trafficked youth
0:42:15
ยท
173 sec
Council Member Stevens asks about how the city ensures trauma-informed care is provided to commercially and sexually exploited youth, and how ACS evaluates the effectiveness of its initiatives. ACS representatives explain their processes and follow-up procedures.
- ACS requires initial screening for all children in their care, with periodic follow-ups
- The agency has increased the number and types of trainings provided to staff over the past few years
- ACS has a system in place to follow up every 3 months on the progress of identified trafficked or at-risk youth
- The agency coordinates with various units, including the missing children's outreach unit and investigative consultants, to ensure comprehensive care and follow-up
Althea Stevens
0:42:15
How how does the city ensure that trauma informed care is targeted in services for, commercially and sexually exported youth in this space here?
Ina Mendez
0:42:28
Sorry.
0:42:29
So the city, as I mentioned, it's required that all children that come to our attention, whether it's through the division of child protection, prevention, or foster care, or any other other child serving organizations that we do an initial screening, and that is done periodically.
0:42:46
That is required.
0:42:47
And then if there are indicators or they've been trafficked, there there's a set of, follow-up that that is necessary.
0:42:54
Over the years, the last 2 or 3 years, we've increased the number of trainings that we provide so that we can reach, we do live trainings, virtual trainings, we have an e learn as I mentioned.
0:43:05
So that is how we make sure, that the information about the expectation, we also have a policy that outlines the the regulations and the next steps in terms of what someone is supposed to follow.
0:43:18
Yeah.
Althea Stevens
0:43:18
ACS Office of Child on Trafficking Prevention and Policy has introduced numerous initiatives including anti trafficking counseling, credible messenger programs, and the NYCD child tattoo eradication program.
0:43:30
How does OCPT p OCTPP evaluate effectiveness of its anti trafficking counseling and, group work initiative in supporting youth and reducing their risk of, exploitation.
Ina Mendez
0:43:50
I'm sorry.
0:43:51
Could you say the second the last part of the question?
0:43:53
I'm sorry.
Althea Stevens
0:43:53
My Basically, I'm just asking how are you guys evaluating the success of these programs and and how are you tracking the work, around that you're doing as far as the, anti anti trafficking counseling and group work initiative that you guys have been doing?
UNKNOWN
0:44:06
Thank you.
Ina Mendez
0:44:07
So we have a system that we have in place.
0:44:10
So as I mentioned, we get information about who's trafficked or at risk.
0:44:14
We do follow-up every 3 months where we go into our system of record called connections, and we'll follow-up to see the progress the child has made.
0:44:22
We'll also follow-up with the case planning organization, whether it's the foster care agency or the preventive agency to get an update.
0:44:28
And as Sabine mentioned, we have a team that will also follow-up with youth in residential care settings and or in foster placement to just get an update on how they're doing, if we need to provide additional services.
0:44:40
We also have, missing children's outreach unit that if children go AWOC, they will help and assist the agency in following the protocol.
0:44:49
We have investigative consultants who also will help partner with, the NYPD to help look for youth that, have been AWOC.
0:44:58
And upon return, another screening is issued so that we can get an assessment of if there are any, new flags to to follow-up on or anything new to report.