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Inaugural Meeting of Experts Council and JuST Response State System Mapping Report Preview

Thank you!

On March 4, 2015 Shared Hope International convened the inaugural Experts Council meeting and previewed the 2015 JuST Response State System Mapping Report. The event was a success and we extend our thanks to those who attended in-person or via webcast.

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#JuSTResponse on Twitter

Webcast Recording

JuST Response State System Mapping Report Release Event from Shared Hope on Vimeo.

Experts Council

Shared Hope brought together the nation’s top experts to discuss trending approaches to state laws, child serving agency response and service provision for juvenile victims of sex trafficking. We offered an advance release of the JuST Response State Systems Mapping Report, which will be released publicly this month.

Experts Council

Darla Bardine, National Network for Youth (DC)
Nikki Trautman Baszynski, Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OH)
Lauren Behsudi, Casey Family Programs (DC)
Blair Bjellos, U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Ted Poe (TX) and Victims’ Rights Caucus Coordinator
Nicole Borrello, DOJ/CEOS (DC)
Mike Conrad, FBI, retired (AZ)
Denise Edwards, National Children’s Alliance (DC)
Rebecca Epstein, Georgetown University School of Law (DC)
Tina Frundt, Courtney’s House (DC)
Courtney Gaskins, Youth for Tomorrow (VA)
Alexandra Gelber, DOJ/CEOS (DC)
Melinda Giovengo, YouthCare (WA)
Lisa Goldblatt Grace, My Life My Choice, Justice Resource Institute (MA)
Kim Grabert, Dept. of Children & Families (FL)
Yolanda Graham, Devereux Georgia (GA)
Michelle Guymon, L.A. County Probation Dept. (CA)
Marian Hatcher, Cook County Sheriff’s Office (IL)
Stephanie Holt, Mission 21 (MN)
Gretchen Kerr, Northland, A Church Distributed (FL)
Abigail Kuzma, Indiana Attorney General’s Office (IN)
Amy Louttit, National Network for Youth (DC)
Faiza Mathon-Mathieu, ECPAT- USA (DC)
Abi Mills, Northland, A Church Distributed (FL)
Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, Survivor Advocate (MD)
Alexandra (Sandi) Pierce, Othayonih Research (MN)
Rochelle Rollins, DHHS/ACF (DC)
Linda Smith, Shared Hope International (WA)
Melissa Snow, NCMEC (VA)
Jen Spry, RN (PA)
Margaret Talburtt, Lovelight Foundation (MI)
Yasmin Vafa, Human Rights Project for Girls (DC)
Alexander Villarreal, Janus Youth Programs (OR)

Nancy Baldwin, Hickey Family Foundation (AZ)
The Honorable Bobbe Bridge (ret.), Center for Children and Youth Justice (WA)
Rebecca Johnson, PhD (WA)
Katherine Kaufka Walts, Center for the Human Rights of Children, Loyola University Chicago (IL)
The Honorable Hiram Puig-Lugo, D.C. Superior Court (DC)
Margie Quin, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TN)
Elizabeth Ranade Janis, State of Ohio Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator (OH)
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, Arizona State University (AZ)

JuST-Response-Experts-Council

More information

To learn more about the JuST Response, visit sharedhope.org/justresponse.

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Virginia General Assembly Votes Unanimously to Pass Landmark Legislation that would Establish Virginia’s First Standalone Sex Trafficking Law

Arlington, VA—Today the Virginia General Assembly unanimously passed legislation which would establish Virginia’s first standalone sex trafficking law.  Currently, Virginia is the only state in the nation without a human trafficking law. Without a sex trafficking law in place, Virginia law enforcement and prosecutors have had to rely on substitute laws and makeshift strategies to address sex trafficking in Virginia. If enacted, the new law will establish the comprehensive response needed to appropriately respond to this egregious crime by providing stronger penalties for perpetrators and increasing protections for child victims.

This landmark legislative victory was championed by Chief Patron Delegate Timothy Hugo (HB 1964) and Chief Patron Senator Mark Obenshain (SB 1188) and supported by the Kids Are Not For Sale in Virginia Coalition, a collective effort between Virginia law enforcement, prosecutors, advocacy groups, schools, and hospitals to advocate for the passage and enactment of Virginia’s first standalone sex trafficking statute. Nearly 700 Virginia constituents contacted their representatives to voice support for the passage of this crucial legislation.

The six legislators appointed to the Conference Committee, Delegates Hugo, Robert B. Bell, Watts, and Senators Obenshain, Howell, and McDougle, worked hard to retain the protections and penalties from the House bill during the reconciliation of the House and Senate bills so that law enforcement and prosecutors would have the tools they need to combat sex trafficking in Virginia.

This legislation:

  • Clearly defines and establishes the offense of sex trafficking.
  • Establishes penalties that reflect the seriousness of the offense.
  • Specifically criminalizes child sex trafficking as a Class 3 felony without requiring prosecutors prove that force, intimidation or deception was used to cause the minor to engage in commercial sexual conduct given the way the traffickers recruit minors by preying on their vulnerability and trust.
  • Assists in protecting and properly identifying sex trafficking victims.
  • Closes a loophole in Virginia’s existing laws by criminalizing the recruitment of minors and adults for commercial sex—conduct which is currently not criminalized in Virginia.

Kids are Not For Sale Coalition Media Contact

Taryn Offenbacher
Director of Communications, Shared Hope International
602-818-3955
Taryn@sharedhope.org

ABOUT THE KIDS ARE NOT FOR SALE IN VA COALTION: The coalition was formed to advocate for the passage and enactment of a sex trafficking statute in Virginia in 2015. Members include: Shared Hope International, Richmond Justice Initiative, Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, Regent School of Law Center for Global Justice, Anastasis International, Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative, Central Virginia Justice Initiative, Courtney’s House, Vessels of Mercy International, The Gray Haven, Virginia Catholic Conference, Bon Secours Virginia Health Systems, Release Me International, Virginia Trucking Association, The Family Foundation, Straight Street, and Youth for Tomorrow.

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Discussions on Foster Children Aging Out of System & Holes in Current Support Networks

foster kid

Discussion on Support

On January 30, 2015, the American Youth and Policy Forum (AYPF) held a panel discussing the issue of foster care children emerging from the system at 18 and how organizations and departments in the United States can go about helping to prepare and support them during the transition. The panel included Michael Leach, Director of Independent Living within the Department of Children and Families in Tennessee; Cecilia Tran of California, Policy Analyst for The John Burton Foundation; and Ann Rossi, Department Analyst for the Michigan Department of Human Services.

According to AYPF, over 26,000 youth turn 18 and age out of the foster care system each year. Among them, 40% will experience homelessness and less than 10% will complete a four year college education . They will also deal with financial and emotional struggles. This makes these youth susceptible to trafficking.

AYPF found that 43 states have additional service for foster care kids to the age of 21, three states to the age of 19, two states to the age of 20 and 22, and only one state to the age of 23.

Working at the State Level

Michael Leach spoke about how Tennessee is working with foster kids at an earlier age so they are better prepared once they age out. They are developing better training for foster parents to properly care, educate, and help the kids who come into their home. For those who are exiting out of the foster care system in California, The John Burton Foundation provides housing and helps them learn how to live independently. During this time, some foster kids attend college. Ann Rossi is working in the state of Michigan to help those who enter college from foster care to adapt, do well in academics, graduate, and find employment.

What Can Be Done

We can help foster kids in our communities by simply reaching out to them; being a source of support and encouragement so they do not feel alone. Second, we can share our experiences, knowledge, and resources so they can learn from people they trust. Third, help direct youth by showing them opportunities that are available to them, including education, clubs, athletics, and jobs; activities and roles that are designed to encourage interests and prepare them for life beyond foster care and college.

Shared Hope International partners with Mission 21, an organization that provides training and support to therapeutic foster families who will provide specialized services to youth who have been trafficked. With programs like these and the help of the community, foster kids that age out of the system can be better prepared to live a life where they feel supported by those around them and pursue their goals.

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Shared Hope Tackles Human Trafficking at Super Bowl & Scores a Big Win for Justice

An Unforgettable Announcement

Students at Grand Canyon University view the doll box installation on campus.
Students at Grand Canyon University view the doll box installation on campus.

Last week Shared Hope International was in Phoenix to raise awareness about child sex trafficking through the “Children Aren’t Playthings” doll box campaign. We used the national spotlight on Phoenix and the Super Bowl to bring an unforgettable announcement that child sex trafficking is happening in America.

We talked to hundreds of students and community members about the issue, most were shocked to learn that trafficking takes place in America today. The campaign also received significant media attention from the Huffington Post, ABC, and the Washington Times, among others.

Using Creativity to Raise Awareness

The box was created through a pro bono partnership between Shared Hope and Brunner, a creative agency in Atlanta. The exhibit took Silver in the 2014 OBIE Awards for being for the year’s most creative and dynamic out-of-home advertising in 2014.

Over 600 people were reportedly arrested on charges related to sex trafficking this year because of focused efforts from law enforcement to cut down on the anticipated increase in the commercial sex trade during the Super Bowl each year. Among those arrested was NFL Hall of Fame Lineman Warren Sapp who was arrested on charges of solicitation.

Taking Action

Shared Hope’s support letter on Demandingjustice.org encouraging Arizona County Attorney’s to prosecute buyers to the fullest extent of the law received over 3,000 signatures. You can view the petition at http://www.demandingjustice.org/petition/.

Catch a glimpse of the doll box in action in the video below:

watch

Take Action

Visit Shared Hope’s Legislative Action page to learn how you can take action on these issues!

Learn more

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Congressional Action on Human Trafficking in the USA Urged by Women Senators

An Urgent Appeal

Today, every woman Senator in Congress (20 in total) urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing as soon as possible on the virulent issue of sex trafficking in the United States.

“…there is widespread recognition that the federal government needs to do more to combat sex trafficking.”

The 20 Senators mention in their appeal a recent op-ed piece from the Washington Post which highlighted the issue in detail of a 15-year-old girl who was held, raped, beaten and starved as she was trafficked for sex.

Taking Action

The hearing would create the space needed to hear from victims, advocates, law enforcement and others in order to better provide the Committee with the information it needs as it covers the many anti-trafficking bills currently being considered:

“Human trafficking is a $32 billion criminal enterprise, making it the second largest criminal industry in the world behind the drug trade. According to the Department of Justice, 83 percent of sex trafficking victims in the United States are American citizens.”

Read the Letter

List of Signing Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.),  Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.).

Take Action

Learn how you can participate!

To take action on many of the sex trafficking bills currently passing through Congress, please visit Shared Hope’s Legislative Action Center.

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