During the month of January, advocates, organizations and individuals unite to raise awareness about human trafficking. Human trafficking is an issue that touches every community, including Sacramento County youth.
Since September 2015, Sacramento County Child Protective Services has identified 199 adolescents who were sexually exploited or at risk of being sexually exploited. 98 percent of those youth are female with the median age of 13-17, and a disproportionally high number of these youth – 45 percent are African American. While much work is being done and there are many local services available, there is still need for additional community support and awareness.
Child Protective Services (CPS) is the lead agency charged with providing services and support, including placement, for these vulnerable youth. CPS has a significant need for Foster Families, now called Resource Families, to provide loving and stable homes for all children and youth that enter foster care. There is a specific need for youth that have been sexually exploited. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Resource Family and/or adoptive parent, please attend
the next Resource Family/Adoptive Parent Orientation or call 916-875-5543.
The District Attorney's Office aggressively pursues and prosecutes those who sexually exploit women and children. The Human Trafficking Team works with the Sacramento Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF), which includes the FBI, the Sacramento Police Department, and Sacramento County Sheriff's Department. The CETF focuses on rescuing juveniles from sex trafficking and prosecuting the persons responsible for the commercial exploitation of children. The Human Trafficking Team provides law enforcement with regular trainings on the signs and fact patterns that can indicate a trafficking situation as well as how to follow up and appropriately respond to victims and look for evidence.
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office is also part of a number of collaborative efforts to rescue and assist victims:
In 2015, the District Attorney’s Office created Sacramento Together – a Human Trafficking Task Force coalition. Sacramento Together wants to raise awareness about this issue and encourage all members of the public to attend a showing of the documentary entitled, “California’s Forgotten Children.”
“California’s Forgotten Children” is a feature documentary about child sex trafficking. The film recounts true stories of girls and boys who were commercially sexually exploited in California and are now survivors and courageous leaders fighting for the rights of victims worldwide. This film gives viewers the tools to combat this epidemic.
LOCAL SHOWING:
Host: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and University of the Pacific George School of Law
Date: Jan. 31, 2019
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: 3200 5th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817, Classroom C
*150 seats available, first come first served. Free street parking*
To host your own showing of “California’s Forgotten Children, please contact Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney
Paul Durenberger.
