Development and Implementation of California’s Interagency Protocols for Child Trafficking

• In Event: Service System Strategies to Identify and Respond to Minor Victims of Human Trafficking

Abstract

Since 2012 California has worked diligently to improve its understanding of and response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). The statewide CSEC Action Team has been one of the drivers of these efforts. Additionally, several key legislative changes have resulted in an innovative new program, currently being implemented in more than 20 California counties. This presentation will describe California’s statewide efforts including the new CSEC Program and implementation of the federal requirements codified by the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (HR 4980). The statewide CSEC Action Team created sample interagency protocols for adoption by local teams; these will be shared at the session. Local efforts related to child trafficking include the Law Enforcement First Responder Protocol (FRP), which has allowed Los Angeles County to drastically reduce the number of children arrested for prostitution and related offenses. The FRP, instead, provides these children a non-punitive, victim-centered response. Of note, the recently formed Survivor Advisory Board informs state and local reform efforts in California.

Author

• Kate Walker Brown, National Center for Youth Law