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October 7, 2014
Building a Child Welfare Response to Child Trafficking
On October 7, 2014, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) hosted a training at the Nicholas Scoppetta Children’s Center to “build a child welfare response to child trafficking” and bring together a cross section of ACS frontline workers, city agencies, providers, and advocates. Co-organized by Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and the International Organization (IOFA) the training for over 180 staff from ACS, NYC Department of Education, District Attorney’s Offices, Department of Youth and Community Development, Department of Homeless Services, Human Resource Administration, Law Department, Bellevue Hospital, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Council of Caring and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA).
Commissioner Gladys Carrión and NYPD Commissioner William Bratton welcomed participants, both emphasizing the importance of working together to address child trafficking. “All of us play critical and interconnected role... Those of you here in this room today are the city’s greatest assets for identifying it and for helping victims seek the services and support they need,” said Commissioner Carrión. “Every moment with we have with a child is another opportunity to help,” she said. Commissioner Bratton echoed the sentiment noting that there was no more important duty than protecting a child.
Young people who are involved in or have had past experience in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems are particularly vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation, also referred to as sex trafficking. Commercially sexually exploited children (C-SEC) often cross into multiple systems—law enforcement, the courts, hospitals, schools, and others. Given the complexity of trafficking including the stigma and coercion associated with it, it is challenging for those at the frontlines to identify it and link victims to support.
Sue Morley, ACS Senior Advisor for Investigations to the Commissioner and one of the organizers of the conference, presented New York City’s plan for addressing CSEC youth. In recent years, ACS has implemented a comprehensive policy while also strengthening its investigative capacity and clinical expertise through collaborations with the city, state and contracted providers, including: co-locating specialized counselors from Safe Horizon and Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) at ACS; developing residential placements for sexually exploited girls; providing intensive preventive services for young people and their families; and contracting with three LGBT community-based providers to provide outreach and support to LGBTQ young people.
ACS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov (212) 341-0999