CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children)
Advocacy Strategies
SFCASA ADVOCACY AREAS:
Healthcare, Independent Living Skills, Community Connections, Placement, Education
Why We advocate
CSEC, also known as DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking) occurs when a young person under 18 years exchanges sex for anything of value (money, food, clothes…etc.), and is illegal. Youth in the dependency system are extremely vulnerable to being sexually exploited while they are in foster care, and afterwards. Research finds that for youth who have experienced CSEC, 60-90% were involved in the dependency system at some point in their lives. Systems (healthcare, juvenile justice, dependency, education) often fail to recognize exploitation, and interventions mostly treat the effects or consequences of CSEC rather than the causes.
It is important to recognize that young people who trade for sex seldom see themselves as victims. From the perspective of a young person in the dependency system, selling sex can be viewed as a way they take some control over their lives. Also, some survivors of CSEC have reported that there was nothing that someone could have told them to help them either avoid being recruited into exploitation, or to help them with exiting. Finally, a young person engaged in CSEC activity is still a whole person who has strengths and other things going on in their lives.
If a young person has experienced commercial sexual exploitation, some of the trauma related diagnoses they experience can include:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety/Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Self-Injury
- Substance Abuse
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Dissociative Disorders
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Conduct Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
Understanding the often severe psychological impacts of CSEC can inform advocacy for robust mental health services for the youth.
How to advocate
If you have some concern that your youth may be vulnerable to sexual exploitation, talk with your Case Supervisor about how you can support them.
- SFCASA uses the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT) to assess strengths and vulnerabilities related to CSEC.
- SFCASA partners with HSA-FCS to offer a CSEC prevention curriculum called The Cool Aunt Series. Please talk with your Case Supervisor about this option.
It is not your job to investigate or confirm that the youth you support is involved in CSEC activity. Also, it is not your responsibility to solve or “save” the youth from a potentially harmful situation. That said, CASAs can play a pivotal role in supporting vulnerable young people and helping them to access the services they need. Please review this Continuum of Concern document to familiarize yourself with common signs of vulnerability to CSEC/DMST (always contact your Case Supervisor to discuss any concerns instead of investigating further).
Taking a harm reduction approach with a young person in this situation is key. This means recognizing that a decision to change comes from within, not from being told what to do by an adult. As a CASA, you can provide a judgment-free zone where your youth can explore concerns and options safely. By staying curious about their experiences, validating what they share, and focusing on their strengths and what is working in their life a CASA can be a safe adult in their young person’s life.
Some steps you can take if you have learned or observed something that gives you concern that your young person may be vulnerable to or involved in CSEC activity are:
Behind the Scenes:
- Discuss the situation with your Case Supervisor.
- Contact your youth’s Social Worker to discuss your concerns, after talking with your Case Supervisor.
- If appropriate, contact the Huckleberry Advocacy & Response Team (HART) to discuss your concerns.
- Review CA Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act chart to better understand if a report should be made.
- If appropriate, and after consulting with your Case Supervisor, contact the Child Protective Services hotline to make a report.
- Advocate for the youth to receive robust mental health services from a provider who is familiar with the effects of exploitation and sexual trauma.
- Understand the needs of CSEC victims.
With your youth:
- Recall that the youth may not recognize their situation as exploitative, or present themselves as a victim in need of intervention.
- Recognize that when it comes to youths’ experiences, they are the experts.
- Continue to build a trusting relationship, understanding that it takes time and your youth may not feel ready to confide in you.
- Practice active listening, encouragement, non-judgmental responses, and consistent relationships (even when the youth is resisting or avoiding the relationship).
- Use a calm and supportive tone.
- Meet the youth where they are and on their terms, and try to meet the needs they present.
- Take their wants and needs seriously.
- Give the youth options and be transparent about what you do and don’t know, and can or can’t do.
- Share information about resources available to them.
- Explore options together in a non-judgmental way.
- Support the youth to be as involved as possible in all decision making related to their case.
- Recognize their agency and capacity to make decisions that are good for themselves.
If you are supporting a young person who is impacted by CSEC, remember to practice and model self-care. It is important that you prioritize your well-being so that you can continue to support your youth sustainably. Some self-care suggestions include:
- Find someone to talk to (CASA Supervisor or professional mental health provider).
- Rediscover things that are fun/important to you outside of your CASA work.
- Utilize self-compassion techniques.
- Use positive ways to cope with stress, such as exercise and socializing.
- Exercise, meditation, journaling, expressive arts, etc.
- Take a break.
Appropriate Language
We know that how we talk with a youth about this topic can dramatically influence whether they will feel safe, accepted, and trusting of the CASA relationship. In some cases, the CASA may be the only adult a young person feels comfortable reaching out to for support, so maintaining trust is vital.
You will want to limit the use of terminology such as: victim, CSEC, prostitution, exploitation. Instead, talk about the issue that a youth is dealing with without labeling them or their situation. In general, asking open-ended questions with a curious mindset and validating what they share is recommended.
A few sample questions might include:
- There’s a lot going on for you right now, how are you feeling?
- Are you interested in learning more about sexual health (or healthy relationships, or safety options)?
- What are you concerned about?
- What’s working well for you right now?
- What are your hopes for the next few weeks/months?
Validating comments might include:
- It sounds like that was hard.
- I hear you, you feel frustrated when you don’t feel listened to.
- It’s hard to remember what’s going on sometimes, especially when there are lots of things happening around you.
- It’s OK if you don’t want to talk about it. Your information is your information.
- It can be overwhelming to not know what to do. Let’s think about possibilities.
- Right now, I’m not 100% sure either, but I want to tell you what I do know. When I find out more I’ll let you know.
CSEC Safety Conversations If you believe the young person may be open to thinking together about safety options, you can introduce a safety conversation related to CSEC (be sure to use whatever term they use). Your Case Supervisor can help you to strategize about safety questions specific to your youth's situation. If you believe the youth may continue to engage in behaviors that make them vulnerable to CSEC (for example, leaving their approved placement) you may support them by thinking together about how they might do so more safely. Asking questions about how they can prepare, what supplies they might need, and what they will do if they feel unsafe is a good place to start. Learn more about safety conversations in the Appropriate Language section of the Harm Reduction page.
For more ideas on how to effectively communicate with a youth experiencing CSEC, please see this Engagement Guide Credit: Huckleberry Advocacy & Response Team (HART)
Resources/links to learn more
Social Media Safety Guide for parents and caregivers. Survivor informed guidance on how to reduce vulnerability to online exploitation.
San Francisco County
Huckleberry Advocacy & Response Team (HART) Relationship-driven, trauma-informed case management services and referrals to increase safety and stabilization.
Justice At Last Free Legal Council and Legal Support to survivors of all backgrounds and every type of trafficking.
HYPE Drop-in Center clothing, hygeine, and school/office supply closet for youth.
San Francisco SafeHouse Housing, rapid rehousing and rent support for unstably housed survivors, case management, drop in center.
Asian Pacific Islanders Legal Outreach (APILO)
Asian Womens' Shelter (TAY) Emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and counseling.
San Mateo County:
San Mateo County Rape Trauma Services
Contra Costa County:
Annie Cannons (tech education for survivors)
Alameda County
Ruby's Place offers short term placement for female identifying youth and NMDs who have experienced CSEC.
West Coast Clinic - C Change an intensive mental health program that helps children heal from sexual exploitation.
Misssey (case management)
Santa Clara County
Male Survivor Information and Resources
Youth Cell Phone Use and Restrictions: An All County Letter from CDSS provides guidance for the use and restriction of cell phones for foster youth, especially youth involved in, or at risk of, CSEC.