Q&A
Factors contributing to increased identification and services for sexually exploited youth
0:48:28
ยท
3 min
Council Member Stevens asks about factors contributing to the increased number of identified sexually exploited youth between 2022 and 2023, and inquires about the services provided to these youth. ACS representatives explain their observations and service provision.
- ACS attributes the increase to improved staff training and awareness, leading to better identification of at-risk youth
- The agency emphasizes that the increased numbers may not necessarily indicate more victims, but better detection
- ACS provides a range of services to identified youth, including trauma-informed care, housing assistance, and educational support
- Programs such as Fair Futures, which provides coaching up to age 26, and college choice programs are available to support older youth
Althea Stevens
0:48:28
What factors does ACS believe contribute to the increased number of identifying sexual exploited youth between 2022 and 2023, and how is ACS reporting, responding to those trends?
Ina Mendez
0:48:41
We believe that with our increased trainings that we've been offering in 2022 and 2023, we have more staff, whether it's ACS staff or the provider staff that are more comfortable, more informed, more knowledgeable about sex trafficking, how to identify it, how to unpack it, how to discuss it.
0:49:01
So as a result of those increased trainings, we think that more use have been, identified because more people are using the screening tools and they're better equipped to do the work.
0:49:12
Mhmm.
0:49:12
We don't actually know if these numbers are representing more kids than if, you know, we look back 10 years ago, but we have the data.
0:49:20
We continue to respond to it, but we do think that with the expanded knowledge base and also knowing how to apply that knowledge, they're able to recognize the red flags as youth that might be at risk or actually traffic.
Althea Stevens
0:49:33
Local law 41 of 2016 requires DYCD and ACS to report on the number of sexual exploited youth in contact with those agencies.
0:49:40
In 2023, reports identified 760 such youth.
0:49:45
How many of those young people have successfully been connected to safe housing, medical care, mental health services, and other essential supports?
Ina Mendez
0:49:55
So as part of foster care services, one of the pillars is to make sure that all children in care have a case plan and a service plan, and that service plan needs to be responsive to their needs as it pertains to medical, mental health, education, and socio social, other social issues.
0:50:15
It's the same for youth that are trafficked or at risk.
0:50:17
However, additionally, we would make sure that they have trauma informed services that are designed to help support them, as they begin to heal with those particular, as a result of being trafficked or at risk for trafficking.
0:50:31
Additionally, older youth across the continuum, but including youth that are trafficked or are at risk for trafficking, have access to housing services.
0:50:40
We have an office of housing that helps connect older youth to various housing programs.
0:50:44
We have a partnership with an organization called Anthos Home, which helps doing housing navigation so that they can find viable housing within the community.
0:50:53
We have our Fair Futures program that gives everyone in foster care a coach.
0:50:57
2 years ago, that program was expanded so even as they leave care, they can have the coach up to 26.
0:51:02
We have a college choice program for youth interested in going to college, whether it's a 2 or 4 year degree.
0:51:08
For youth that sign themselves out of care at 18, we have, supervision to 21 unit that continues to track those youth.
0:51:15
They check-in with them.
0:51:17
And if needed, if they come back into care, we can help make that transition back into care.
0:51:21
So I say that all to say that we continue to support youth who are are trafficked or at risk for trafficking, with all of these services, but they also get the more tailored responsive services to tracking to to sex trafficking and or, at risk.