AGENCY TESTIMONY
Identification and screening processes for trafficked youth
0:14:21
ยท
123 sec
ACS has implemented various tools and processes to identify and screen for trafficked youth. These include a child trafficking database, a specialized mailbox, and a Missing Children's Outreach Unit.
- Describes the child trafficking database for completing mandated sex trafficking screening tools
- Mentions the child trafficking mailbox for reporting and receiving expert assistance
- Highlights the role of the Missing Children's Outreach Unit in locating absent youth
- Reports that 760 youth were identified as sexually exploited or at risk in 2023
Ina Mendez
0:14:21
ACS created the child trafficking database, which is an electronic cloud based database in which ACS child welfare and provider agency staff can complete the mandated sex trafficking screening tools.
0:14:34
ACS also has a child trafficking mail mailbox where any ACS or provider agency staff can both report youth as being possibly trafficked and receive expert assistance through one of our master level social workers in our specialized office.
0:14:51
As reported in our 2023 annual report, in 2023, ACS and DYCD jointly identified and served 760 youth who were sexually exploited or at risk of sexual exploitation, of which 457 were identified through various ACS mechanisms, including our child trafficking mailbox, the child trafficking database, our contracted counselors at the children's center, our prevention service and FAP providers, our contracted safe harbor grant funded service providers, and through OTADA as a confirmed victim.
0:15:27
The Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy provides direct and clinical technical support for professionals, consults with and supports federal, state, city, and community based agencies, assist in law enforce enforcement recovery operations, and coordinates the safe harbor program for New York County, which works to synchronize services for tracked trafficked and at risk children both within and external to the child welfare system.
0:15:53
We are also happy to offer a free tattoo removal service for traffic or gang involved youth.
0:16:01
ACS's Missing Children's Outreach Unit provides guidance and technical assistance to foster care provider agencies when a child is absent without consent.
0:16:10
This unit also works with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children and ACS's investigative consultants, who are retired NYPD detectives who support on the most challenging case cases to find AWOC youth.