The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction

ii. Preventing Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) InitiativeThe CSEC Initiative is a grant program administered by the Department, through OJJDP, toprovide communities with resources to develop a better understanding of the CSEC problem andthe ability to implement local plans involving law enforcement, court officials, and humanservice personnel, along with state and municipal decision makers in combating sexualexploitation juveniles. The initiative includes demonstration, direct service, and training andtechnical programs, as well as research and evaluation initiatives.In the past, demonstration and direct service programs have included the New York CityCoalition Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Fulton County, Georgiabased Juvenile Justice Fund and Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), based inHarlem, NY. In New York City and in Fulton County, Georgia each effort received funding todesign and develop programs that strengthen the effective collaboration between government andnongovernment agencies addressing CSEC issues. As a direct service effort, GEMS providesshort and long residential services and counseling to girls ages 12 – 21 who have experiencedsexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry.Training and technical assistance resources were provide to The Salvation Army in order todevelop a multi-site training and technical assistance program to assist communities in aligninginvestigative, prosecutorial, and victim service resources to reduce the impact of commercialsexual exploitation of children and youth. Five target communities were selected, to include:Atlantic City, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; San Diego, California; andWashington DC.In FY 2009 OJJDP expanded training and technical assistance efforts and CSEC research. Thenew initiative, titled “Improving Community Response to CSEC” provided $500,000 to threecommunities in order to strengthen effective collaboration between stakeholder organizationsand, ultimately, develop an effective community response to child victims of exploitation.The expanded training and technical assistance effort, which is based on the curriculum designedunder the initiative, will provide the training to the three communities funded under theImproving Community Response to CSEC initiative, as well as providing training to the ICACTask Force Program.iii. Services for Victimized Children Through Child Advocacy CentersThe Department, through OJJDP, provides grants to Local Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)to aid in coordinating the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases byutilizing multidisciplinary teams of professionals involved in child protective and victimadvocacy services, law enforcement and prosecution, and physical and mental health. One of theprimary goals of the CAC Program is to ensure that child abuse victims are not furthertraumatized by the systems designed to protect them. OJJDP provides financial support throughgrants and cooperative agreements to the following regional, State, and local child advocacycenters:51