WHAT IS COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN? The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is also called “child prostitution.” CSEC occurs when children under the age of 18 are sexually exploited entirely or primarily for financial or other economic gain. CSEC includes any sexual act for profit. As a result of this exploitation, second parties benefit from the sexual activity with the child, either by making a profit, or through a quid pro quo arrangement – an agreement to receive something in return for the sexual act.
FOR HELP CONTACT: Melba Robinson CEASE Program Manager (404) 224-4999 Melba.Robinson@fultoncountyga.gov
C ENTER TO E ND A DOLESCENT S EXUAL E XPLOITATION
WHAT IS CEASE? The Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) is a direct service program of the Juvenile Justice Fund that delivers an array of assessment, placement, treatment, education, and advocacy services and activities to help CSEC victims.
WHO DOES CEASE HELP? CEASE services are designed to help girls in the Atlanta Metro area, primarily Fulton County, who have been commercially sexually exploited. CEASE also provides intervention services for girls at risk for commercial sexual exploitation. High Risk Girls are those youth that have three or more identified red flags, but exploitation is not clearly evident. Red Flags include: •Criminal Trespassing •Shoplifting •Giving a False Name •Loitering for Solicitation •Runaway •Violation of Probation/Supervision •Financial Transaction Charges •History of 3+ formal court hearings •School Problems (Truancy) •Substance Abuse •Sexual Relationship with adult male
CEASE
CEASE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: To learn about current Volunteer opportunities for the CEASE program, go to our website link: www.juvenilejusticefund.org/volunteers.aspx
Juvenile Justice Fund 395 Pryor Street, SW Suite 1025 Atlanta, Georgia 30312 404.224.4415 www.juvenilejusticefund.org
P LACEMENT & T REATMENT S ERVICES
THE PROBLEM The channels available to sexual predators are more numerous today, and much harder to shut down than ever in our community’s history. Atlanta has developed an international reputation as a hub for the commercial sexual exploitation of children. In this “market,” predators increasingly target younger and younger children. Today, the average age of girls who are sexually victimized is 13, although we have served children as young as 10. Once caught in the web, children face a high probability of life without education, job skills, or healthcare. Many exploited girls become teen mothers, starting and repeating the cycle of abuse and victimization. Initial findings from the research commissioned by the Juvenile Justice Fund to measure the scope of this problem in Georgia show that between 200 and 300 girls are victims of commercial sexual exploitation each month, including an estimate of 123 girls on any typical weekend night. Without intervention, a girl victimized by sexual exploitation can enter adulthood caught in a cycle of abuse, exploitation, and criminal behavior facing a lifetime of self-destructive tendencies fueled by post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, malnutrition, homelessness, and the effects of sexually transmitted diseases, including the threat of HIV/AIDS. Prior to CEASE, our community lacked any specialized services, including placement options offering protective and treatment services to address the unique needs of these young girls. Today CEASE is one of nation’s most aggressive initiatives to prevent sexual exploitation of children and to take action wherever sexual abuse is occurring.
HOW CAN CEASE HELP? P REVENTION & A WARENESS A CTIVITIES CEASE staff conduct various community awareness presentations to educate our community about the problem and needs of CSEC victims. Working collectively with schools, universities, faith-based organizations and other civic groups, CEASE helps to build protective coalitions for the prevention of this crime, while also helping communities to identify at risk girls in need of early intervention services and activities to prevent victimization. CEASE works collaboratively with another Juvenile Justice Fund initiative known as A Future. Not A Past: Stop the Prostitution of Children in Georgia (www.afuturenotapast.org) to employ strategies to deter child pimping through advocacy for tougher laws and enforcements; training of law enforcement and other professionals who respond to this crime; and research and public awareness activities to increase understanding and prevention in the community.
C OURT A DVOCACY Prior to CEASE, girls who were picked up or arrested by law enforcement for prostitution were unfairly charged with the crime (not the adult male pimping or soliciting them), labeled a prostitute by the juvenile justice system, and detained in youth detention facilities. As a result, trained Volunteer CEASE Court Advocates provide support and guidance to girls in juvenile court proceedings to prevent incarceration and unfair punishment as a result of their victimization. These advocates work one-on-one with each girl to facilitate proper assessment, treatment, and placement to ensure their safety and healing. Advocacy and Targeted Case Management is key to identifying and securing all available support and services for CSEC victims.
Each CSEC victim needs a specialized assessment to determine the level of intervention and treatment services needed to meet the child’s immediate physical, emotional, mental, social and educational needs. The Juvenile Justice Fund has worked collaboratively with community stakeholders to secure funds in the state budget of the Department of Human Resources to establish a Regional Assessment Center for CSEC victims. The Center is available to help girls who have been commercially sexually exploited in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties. CEASE participates in regular Treatment Team staffings to monitor the progress of the girls during their assessments and to facilitate placements that support long-term treatment goals after discharge. Girls reside in the Assessment Center for up to 30 days. Following an assessment, each girl needs a safe place to participate in treatment. The best placement for these girls is Angela’s House. Located in a secluded comfortable suburban home setting, Angela’s House provides a new beginning for CSEC victims. Beyond the reach of perpetrators, Angela’s House serves as the fulltime residence for up to six girls, some as young as 11 years old.
C ONNECTION A CTIVITIES CEASE is currently working to create opportunities for CSEC victims to remain connected to CEASE and Angela’s House staff beyond discharge from these programs. In addition to quarterly gatherings and opportunities to serve on a speakers’ bureau to help educate others about the issue, CEASE plans to create a peer counseling program to enable healed victims to inspire and support other girls.