January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB)
NHTAD | On Demand Trainings | Virtual Event Series | Community Events | Signature Block
Background
California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is committed to the eradication and prevention of human trafficking and the support of survivors of human trafficking in our State. During January 2024, you are invited to join the Child Trafficking Response Team and the Asylee and Trafficking Unit in virtual events designed to raise awareness of human trafficking in California, nationwide and worldwide.
During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the efforts of lived-experience experts, survivor advocates, anti-trafficking entities, community-based organizations, law enforcement officials, communities of faith, businesses, and private citizens all around California to raise awareness about human trafficking are celebrated.
Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal industry in the world. Human traffickers profit from the exploitation of adults and youth in our most vulnerable populations. Human trafficking is often visible, but not obvious, and therefore many may not realize it exists in their communities. As a result, cases are typically underreported, and survivors go unidentified. Males, LGBTQ+ youth, Native youth, and unaccompanied minors are disproportionately affected due to systemic injustices and incorrect assumptions about who is affected by human trafficking.
Presidential Proclamation on 2024 National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To raise awareness of human trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign has created an initiative on this important day called #WearBlueDay. On January 11th, join #WearBlueDay by taking photos of yourselves, friends, family, and colleagues wearing blue clothing and sharing these pictures on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) along with the #WearBlueDay hashtag. The Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and to learn how to appropriately respond to possible instances of human trafficking.
On-Demand Trainings
Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) Quarterly Webinar Series, hosted by the Refugee Programs Bureau
The Refugee Programs (RPB) Bureau provides state-level leadership and coordination of programs and services to help vulnerable populations achieve successful resettlement and integration in California communities. Through the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP), the RPB works with all 58 counties to provide cash assistance, food benefits, employment, and social services supports to eligible noncitizen survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes.
This webinar series will provide an overview of TCVAP, the application process, benefits, and services. Register for the series and stay tuned for guest speakers who will talk about their work supporting human trafficking and crime survivors, best practices, resources, and more.
Click Here to Register – Webinar Series
- January 18, 2024; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (date changed from January 11th)
- April 11, 2024; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- July 11, 2024; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- October 10, 2024; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Increasing Trauma-Responsive Knowledge and Practical Skills: A Web course for Caregivers of Youth Experiencing Sex Trafficking and Exploitation
This new self-paced web course provides caregivers of youth who are at risk of or experiencing commercially sexually exploitation with tangible tools and strategies to not only care for youth but also care for themselves. Topics include exploiter strategies, trauma responsive caregiving, harm reduction strategies and interventions, compassion fatigue, and many more.
To access this self-paced training, click the link: Increasing Trauma-Responsive Knowledge and Practical Skills
Virtual Event Series
Below are opportunities for CDSS staff to participate in virtual events designed to raise awareness of Human Trafficking:
Trauma Informed Language Training
Language is a powerful tool that impacts how we respond and think of victims or those at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. Although many of us are not interacting directly with children and youth, we are interacting with those who are. The language we use is important because it affects how direct service providers respond to children and youth. This training was developed to shift the way we discuss children who have been victimized and challenge common stereotypes. We need to be aware of our biases and how those biases inform our use of language when we are interacting, responding, or reporting occurrences of suspected abuse and/or exploitation. We will be showing a recorded training and then hosting an open Q&A discussion.
CSEC Prevention Panel
Click here to Register for Thursday 1/11/2024 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
PACT Resources & Event Calendar
Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking (PACT) supports a collaborative platform for county child welfare agencies to address and prevent child sex and labor trafficking through a peer support network. They will have multiple tools, resources, and special events available during the month of January.
Virtual Art Gallery – Featuring the Work of Those with Lived Experience:
Co-sponsored by the Child and Family Policy Institute of California – Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking Project, the Child Welfare Council’s CSEC Action Team – Advisory Board, and the California Department of Social Services – Child Trafficking Response Team.
Artistic works from human trafficking survivors, including visual arts, spoken and written pieces, and more will be featured. The artists / creators will present their works with some background on each piece.
Community Events
Coming soon!
Signature Block
Please add the below Human Trafficking Prevention Month image to your email signature block for the month of January.
For more information regarding California’s Child Welfare response to Commercial Sexual Exploitation, please contact the Child Trafficking Response Team at CSECProgram@dss.ca.gov. For ongoing updates and information, please subscribe to the CTRT Quarterly Newsletter.
For more information regarding TCVAP, the Refugee Resettlement Program, or other human trafficking concerns related to noncitizen survivors and refugee and immigrant communities, please contact the Asylee and Trafficking Unit at RPB@dss.ca.gov. For ongoing updates and information from the Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB), please subscribe to the RPB listserv.
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