Child Sexual Exploitation
and Human Trafficking
It’s here, even if you don’t see it…
Debbi Davis, RN, Children’s Nurturing Project
Sgt. Keith Hopper, Vacaville Police Department
Dawn LaBar, Solano County Human Trafficking Taskforce
For Leadership Today 2014, Fairfield-Suisun and Vacaville Chambers of Commerce
International Tragedy
 There are more slaves today than at any point in
human history.
 Nearly 30 million people are not free, rather they
are held captive by “slave owners.”
 This is not just a Third World problem.
 Human Trafficking occurs in virtually every nation
on earth.
United States
 The Justice Department estimates 17,000 people are
trafficked INTO the United States every year.
 Currently, there are over 300,000 children
considered at risk for sexual exploitation.
 During 2010-11, 82% of human trafficking cases
investigated by law enforcement were considered
sex trafficking investigations.
 The bottom line: prostitution is rare, sex trafficking
is the new norm.
California
 According to the State of California, 72% of victims
of human trafficking in our state are American
citizens.
 Traffickers generally recruit their victims via on-line
social media, at arranged “parties”, or at public
venues such as malls.
 Criminal street gangs are turning towards the
trafficking of humans instead of drug trafficking.
 Because it is much more lucrative!
In Our Backyard
 30 year old convicted felon and gang member fled
from police in Vacaville. He was later apprehended
with four ladies.
 One of the women was his “wife.”
 The other three – his victims.
• A woman ran naked from an apartment after a
violent attack by her “boyfriend.”
 The victim was being forced to prostitute herself.
 When she refused to continue in “the game” her
boyfriend nearly killed her.
Video Clip
Sister Helps Rescue Sacramento Girl From
Sex Slave Epidemic (March 2014)
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video?autoSt
art=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=993
6074
VIDEO
Delenna’s Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OntjTAsfhpo&feature=emshare_video_user
Local Interest
 Solano County Probation estimates over 60% of the girls currently
in Juvenile Hall have been sexually exploited. Parental
involvement is not uncommon. They are not prostitutes. They are
VICTIMS. They are minors; this is child abuse.
 Coalition formed and led by Solano County District Attorney Don
DuBain includes public safety, probation, child welfare, non-profit
service providers and more to address the issues of exploitation
and sex trafficking, especially involving minors.
 Children’s Nurturing Project - Solano County Program expanding
to include services for sexually exploited minors, including
preventative programming, early identification, therapeutic
trauma counseling, and linkage to appropriate referrals and
resources.
VIDEO
“THE GIRL NEXT DOOR”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRZ1NDR0Rc&feature=e
m-share_video_user
Collaborative Process
Agencies Want to be Part of The
Solution
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Solano County District Attorney
Solano County H & SS, Child Welfare Services
Solano County Sheriff’s Office
Office of Family Violence Prevention
Juvenile Hall
Fairfield Police Department
Suisun City Police Department
Vacaville Police Department
Children’s Nurturing Project
The Proposed Project
 Children’s Nurturing Project as recipient of the 2013/14
Leadership Today class project fundraising will oversee
the Collaborative process and provide:
Coordination
Clinical Expertise and Consultation
Recruit and train local survivor mentors
Clinician training in sexual abuse trauma response
Training for law enforcement, schools, child welfare
services, other community based organizations about child
trauma and identification of child victims of sex trafficking
 Linkage of identified victims for immediate help: shelter,
counseling therapy, basic needs resources, medical care,
legal aid.





Fairfield/Suisun City and Vacaville
 Next Steps:
 Continue collaborative meetings with cities and police
departments of Fairfield, Suisun City, and Vacaville,
Solano County District Attorney, OVFP, Children’s
Nurturing Project, Child Welfare Services, and others
as appropriate to brainstorm on programs, funding
sources, existing program models.
 Engage all agencies to expand Countywide.
 Fundraising to include grants, public-private
partnerships, business engagement
Fairfield/Suisun City and Vacaville
 Grant opportunities – public/private partnerships
with local government agencies and non-profit
service provider(s)
 Next Steps – resource and needs assessment within
local public safety and service providers
 Action planning for intervention with law
enforcement, education system/schools,
community based organizations
Leveraged Resources
 Kaiser Permanente Trauma Informed Care grant
 Awarded to Children’s Nurturing Project 11-20-13 as a
one year pilot to identify and treat youth age 12-19 with
histories of trauma contributing to truancy and school
failure.
 Medi-Cal EPSDT mental health services
 Affordable Care Act health plan coverage
 Special Education
 Other grants and Federal funding
Indicators
 Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community
organizations, or houses of worship?
 Has a child stopped attending school?
 Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
 Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
 Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical
abuse?
 Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
 Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
 Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or
medical care?
15
Indicators
 Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he
or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the
situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
 Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
 Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
 Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to
have a stable living situation?
 Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person
freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security
measures?
16
Indicators
 myredbook.com
 backpages.com
 adultfriendfinder.com
 Multiple Cell Phones
 Adult boyfriend(s)
 Lavish lifestyle
 Tattoos
17
18
19
Community Awareness is KEY
 This can happen anywhere,
to anyone, girls and boys
 In our own neighborhoods
and schools
 Be a part of the solution by
shedding light on this
horrific and growing
underground culture in
Solano County
 Help us to help kids get
safe, healthy and free
 Stay involved
We Can Do Something