Facilitators:
Leah Albright-Byrd
Cailey Bronny
www.BridgetsDream.org
IT’S A NATIONAL EPIDEMIC…
 "Child
exploitation is the most hidden form
of child abuse found in North America
today. It is the Nation′s least recognized
epidemic." – University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Work,
Center for the Study of Youth Policy 2001, revised 2002.
 Almost
300,000 American children are
annually at risk for trafficking into the sex
industry. – U.S. Dept. of Justice

Modern day Slavery

A CRIME that the media has
promoted (i.e. hip hop, music
videos, etc.)

Generating $32 billion annually

The 2nd largest and fasted growing
criminal industry in the world

Not a socioeconomic or culturespecific issue…it’s a global,
national, and LOCAL issue
The US Protect Act
(TVPA) definition:

When a commercial sex act is induced by
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the
person induced to perform such an act has not
attained 18 years of age
A victim need not be physically transported
from one location to another in order for
the crime to fall within these definitions.
PROCESS
+
WAY/MEANS
+
recruitment
A
threat
transportation
N
coercion
N
pornography
transferring
D
abduction
D
violence/sexual
exploitation
A
GOAL
prostitution
harboring
fraud
forced labor
receiving
deceit
involuntary
servitude
deception
debt bondage
(unfair wages)
abuse of power
slavery
For children, consent is irrelevant with or
without the Means category.

The recruiter gains the victim’s trust. Sometimes this is a
boyfriend, a neighbor, or even a family member.

The trafficker is the one who controls the victims. Making
the victim fearful through abuse, threats, and lies the
trafficker gains power over his/her victim. The illusion of
“LOVE” and “Acceptance” are powerful deceptions for
the victim!

The victim could be anyone.


The average age of entry in the U.S. is 12-14 BUT…there are
cases as young as 9 years old… (Rachel Loyd, Founder of
GEMS)
The consumer (Trick, John) funds the sex-trafficking
industry by purchasing services. These individuals are
often pedophiles who seek to act out their perversions in
secrecy.

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
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
The greatest risk factor is age – pimps and exploiters go
after the youngest children because they’re more easily
manipulated.
Youth who have a history of abuse (emotional, physical, or
sexual).
Parental drug use – some parents even sell their children
to support their drug habit
Children who runaway! Studies show that by the 3rd 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

Social Ostracization and Isolation

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other
mental illnesses

Alcohol/Drug Addiction

Debilitating low self-esteem

Imprisonment

Death
 Identifying
sex-trafficking can be difficult for
many reasons.
 Victims
do not identify themselves due to
fear and shame.

Traffickers tend to keep their victims secluded
from all forms of contact.

Many people do not know about sex-trafficking
and do not report it even though it is happening
in their community.
Withdrawing from home life, becoming secretive
and uncommunicative, missing curfew or running
away
 Skipping school and dropping grades
 Dropping old friends for a new group
 Dressing provocatively, heavy makeup, obsession
with wanting to look older
 Negative attitude towards police and authority
 Exhibiting extreme mood swings, abusive
language and behaviors
 Lying about where they are and what they're
doing

Resource: Sexually Exploited Children & Teens (www.sacramentosect.org)
 Coming
home drunk or on drugs
 Staying out late
 Being extremely secretive about their activities
 Acting extremely protective of a new
boyfriend/girlfriend
 Having a new boyfriend/girlfriend who is much
older
 Having unexplained money
 Bring home new and expensive clothing and gifts
 Packing a change of clothes when they go out
 Teens
choose to prostitute themselves
 If they really wanted out, they could leave at
any time
 Teens are willing participants/know what they
are getting into
 Teens get paid to do this
 Teens enjoy sex anyway, so why not get paid
 This only happens to females
 This only happens to "bad" kids or kids from
"bad" families
Resource: Sexually Exploited Children & Teens (www.sacramentosect.org)

Community members must acknowledge this as an atrocity
against humanity by:
◦
◦
◦
◦

Assuming personal responsibility
Raising awareness in the community
Lending a supportive ear to victims
Supporting community organizations that are actively fighting on
behalf of victims of human trafficking
Stricter laws must be enforced to punish consumers and
traffickers.
Under current law, it is easier and more profitable to sell children
then drugs
◦ Traffickers are hardly ever prosecuted
◦

Victims must have resources and community support so that
they can be rehabilitated.

Youth at risk must be identified and provided with prevention
support.
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Keep an open and non-judgmental mind
Familiarize yourself with resources for
rehabilitation

Identify key community partners that can assist

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“I believe you…”
Stay calm
Avoid “Why” questions
Meet them where they are
Respect cultural differences
Foster a trusting relationship with identified
victims
Assess risk
Notify appropriate authorities (i.e. CPS, Support
Programs for Victims, etc.)

In 2009 we had a sixth grader in one of our
elementary schools who was being trafficked to
the Bay Area.

SCUSD, along with UC Davis and Wind Youth
Services, pulled together community partners,
neighboring districts, law enforcement and
governmental agencies from all over the
Sacramento area.

We serve our community and each other and
equip individuals and agencies with the tools
they need to support young people exiting
prostitution

Meeting Times:


Location:
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Serna Center
Contact:
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1st Friday (1pm-3:30pm)
Cailey Bronny
(916) 643-7995
Cailey-Bronny@scusd.edu
Website

www.sacramentosect.org
there are red flags but NO disclosure from
the youth
 If
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Determine if CPS report is required
Connect with your school resources (counselors,
social workers, etc) & brainstorm problem solving
Follow your school site protocol
Call Cailey Bronny (916-643-7995) & I can trouble
shoot with you and help you connect with local
resources.
 If
there is a disclosure from a youth, you
must make a CPS report because you are a
mandated reporter.



Connect with your school site principal, inform
your supervisor, and determine the next steps
needed.
After all reporting has been completed, connect
with your school site resources (counselors,
social workers, etc) and brainstorm next steps.
In addition, call Cailey (916-643-7995) for
additional assistance and resources.
BRIDGET’S STORY…
Bridget Gray was a friend of our founder, Leah
Albright-Byrd. Bridget was a foster child became a
victim of sex-trafficking at the age of 14.
At 19, Bridget briefly left “the life” only to
encounter challenges due to a lack of education,
community support, counseling and financial
resources. She set out to obtain her GED and
some vocational training but struggled to find selfsustaining employment and eventually returned to
sex-trafficking. On March 3rd, 2006, the day of her
22nd birthday, Bridget’s life was taken by a John
in Las Vegas.
Bridget’s endeavors to be free from her painful
past ended tragically but her desire to succeed will
carry on through the lives of other young women
who will experience restoration. Children and
women who are held captive will be set free, they
will be healed, and they will learn to dream
again…
BRIDGET’S DREAM…
Our Commitment…
We are committed to ensuring that families, service providers, and
educators in our community are equipped to safeguard youth from
commercial sexual exploitation.
We are committed to equipping and empowering youth in our
community to be aware of their vulnerabilities while also
developing a healthy sense of self and cherishing healthy sexuality.
What We’re Doing…
Where We’re Going…
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Prevention Workshops
Mentorship
Crisis Intervention
Family Support
Outreach
Pamper-A-Princess Events
Advocacy & Awareness
Consultation Providers
MOM’s Network
Transitional Housing
Assessment
Survivor Groups
Long-Term Placement
Founder’s Memoir
Annual Retreats
Job Development
Leah J. Albright-Byrd
Executive Director/Founder
BRIDGET'S DREAM
916-235-3690
leah@bridgetsdream.org
www.bridgetsdream.org
Cailey Bronny
Foster Youth Services, SCUSD
916-643-7995
Cailey-bronny@scusd.edu
www.sacramentosect.org