state of connecticut department of children and families child welfare response to domestic minor...
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STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
CHILD WELFARE RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING
The Role of Child Welfare
• Until recently there has been virtual silence of child welfare systems leaders across the United States on this issue.
• Three systems most likely to intersect with domestic minor victims of sex trafficking (DMST) and have the mechanisms to identify, report, and intervene most effectively with youth victims, have been absent from the conversation (child welfare, juvenile justice and law enforcement).
• Recent focus of ACF: “Professionals in child welfare are in a position to lead efforts in strengthening the identification, prevention, and early intervention in child trafficking cases” (ACF, 2013, p. 1).
Raphael & Ashley, 2010; Smith, et al, 2009, In Cole & Anderson, 2013
Human Trafficking of Minors is a Child Welfare Issue
The Department of Children and Families is charged with and responsible for protecting ALL children under the age of
eighteen from harm.
This includes victimization through means of human trafficking.
CT Legislation • 2010 Public Act 10-115 − “An Act Providing a Safe Harbor
for Exploited Children” becomes law. The legislature amends Conn. General Statutes Section 53a-82 to state that a person must be sixteen years of age or older to be guilty of prostitution, and in any prosecution of a person sixteen or seventeen years of age, there shall be a presumption that the actor was coerced into committing such offense by another person.
• 2011 Public Act 11-180 - The law provides in part that upon the arrest of any youth by an officer for a violation of section 53a-82, such officer shall report suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families in accordance with the provisions of sections 17a-101to 17a-101d. Those reports should be made to the DCF Careline at (800) 842-2288.
CT Legislation cont.• 2012 Public Act 12-141 – An act concerning commercial
sexual exploitation of a minor. This new statute defines commercial sexual exploitation of a minor as a person who knowingly purchases advertising space for an advertisement for a commercial sex act that includes a depiction of a minor. Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor is a class C felony.
• 2013 Public Act 13-166 – An act concerning sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons. Alignment with federal TVPA, Class C felony if the person knew or reasonably should have known at the time that such other person was either younger than the age of eighteen, forfeiture properties, affirmative defense for minors, vacating records, public awareness and prevention, ongoing monitoring of efforts to combat trafficking, mandatory data reporting, statewide oversight and monitoring body.
Newest piece of CT legislation:
October 2014 Public Act 14 -186 (S.B. 5040)
• HT victims classified as “uncared for” DCF to provide services
• DCF provides training to law enforcement on human trafficking of minors
• Creation of MDT’s to work with human trafficking cases
Connecticut Referrals….• 2008 to present – Approximately 300 youth
referred
• Trafficking type: DMST/CSEC
• Vulnerability: Majority of victims were on runaway/AWOL status; Majority of victims had experienced sexual abuse and/or neglect.
• Age range: 2 – 18
• Referrals: DCF Social Workers, Law enforcement, EMS, congregate care facilities, Courts, public defenders’ office, NGOs, etc…
2014 DATA
94 Referrals 13 Confirmed 92 Female 2 Male Statewide
Policy 31-10-6.1INTAKE AND INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN
The Department of Children and Families is The Department of Children and Families is committed to the identification of, rescue and committed to the identification of, rescue and
protection of, and providing services for protection of, and providing services for children who have been identified as victims of children who have been identified as victims of
human trafficking.human trafficking.
Connecticut DCF Framework
• Identification and Response
• Awareness and Education
• Restore and Recovery
Identification and Response
• DCF Careline developed identification codes; tracking system. Every possible trafficking case should be accepted!
• HART (Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team)
• Designated Emergency Department(s) across the state
• DCF Response Practice Guide
• Relationships established with FBI, United States District Attorney, Homeland Security, State and local law enforcement.
• MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team)
Awareness and Education
• DCF Academy offers 3-days of specialized trainings; Day 1, Day 2 and Demand.
• DCF awareness efforts on DMST include Chief of Police/ roll call trainings, juvenile and adult judges, emergency medical providers, MDT teams, service providers, educators, medical providers, foster parents, etc…
• Education to Connecticut young people: service providers, schools and community.
• Specialized curriculum for girls; My Life My Choice (JRI).
• New curriculum for girls and/or boys: Not a #Number (Love 146).
• National consultation on best practices for child welfare systems and provider networks.
• Newest curriculums and Model: Boys and DMST and Foster Care Training and Model.
Restore and Recovery
• Provider Network “Trained Up”/ “Trafficking Informed” Services
• Specialized services including foster care and mentoring
• Rapid Responses
• Survivor Care/ Love 146
• Victim advocacy; prosecutions, restorations, etc…
HART LEADERSHIP
Tammy M. Sneed, Director of Gender Responsive Adolescent Services
And Yvette Young, HART Coordinator
Specialty Member: DCF
Medical Director
Regional HART
Liaisons (6)
MDT Coordinator
(3)
Director of CT Children’s Alliance
Specialty Member: DCF
Careline
HART
Service Providers and Advocates
Tammy M. Sneed, Director of Gender Responsive Adolescent Services
Caroline Diemar, New Haven MDT Coordinator
Melanie Kmetz, Regional Supervisor for Region 1
Law Enforcement
HART Regional Liaisons
MDT Coordinators
Forensic Interviewers
Attorneys
CredentialingCommittee
Communication Committee
Law Enforcement Training
Committee
Forensic Interview Committee
Connecticut’s Laws
Committee
Training Committee
Services Committee
HART Coordinator
DCF RESPONSE
If there is reasonable cause If there is reasonable cause to SUSPECT human to SUSPECT human
trafficking of a child call the trafficking of a child call the DCF Careline at DCF Careline at 800.842.2288.800.842.2288.
Be very clear to inform the Be very clear to inform the screener that you suspect screener that you suspect
that the child may be a that the child may be a victim of human victim of human trafficking/DMSTtrafficking/DMST
Contact Information
Tammy M. Sneed
Director of Gender Responsive Adolescent Services
Cell: 860-462-4314