On April 20, 2018, we hosted a dynamic conference at UJA-Federation in New York City–Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC): Prevention, Protection and Clinical Practice. We had more than 250 experts and professionals in attendance, including school leaders, child protection teams, social workers, mental health practitioners, law enforcement professionals, academics, researchers, and others who wanted to share and learn practical ways to tackle commercial sexual exploitation of children and child trafficking.
Presentations and workshops focused on evidence-based models, skill-building, survivor experiences, cross-discipline collaboration, case studies, and lessons learned. All sessions were approved for Continuing Education credits (CEUs). Each presentation provided information and training based on cutting-edge research development and clinical application. There was a particular focus on those with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and other disabilities as well as transgender and LGBTQ youth.
The format of the conference facilitated interaction and learning from some of the most advanced practitioners and researchers in the CSEC field, with opportunities to engage with peers and hear from key speakers about current trends and research, groundbreaking initiatives, and examples of best practices
The JCCA 2018 CSEC Conference enabled participants to:
- Hear the latest developments in policy and practice in terms of identification, risk assessment, and intervention
- Understand the fast-evolving online dangers
- Respond appropriately and effectively to prevent online risks leading to harm
- Promote young people’s resilience, balancing the need for independence with protection from harm
- Educate children and young people about healthy relationships
- Help boost families’ resilience and disrupt perpetrators of CSEC
- Understand and respond to the particular risks that face boys, LGBTQ, and transgender youth
- Support children in foster care and their caregivers through improved physical safety and peer protection
A big thank you to Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), Ecpat-Usa, Administration for Children’s Services, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Covenant House New York, & The Seligson Group for supporting JCCA’s inaugural CSEC Conference!