Advocacy strategies and resources

CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children)

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) also called Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, happens when a person under 18 exchanges sex for something of value (like money, food, shelter, or other goods). It is a form of child abuse and is illegal. Youth in foster care are at particularly high risk, and many have had experience with the dependency system at some point in their lives. Systems often fail to identify exploitation early and instead address its consequences rather than its causes.

Young people involved in CSEC may not see themselves as “victims,” and may describe their experiences in terms of control, survival, or relationships rather than exploitation. Regardless of self-identification, the experience is harmful and connected to trauma, mental health challenges, and long-term well-being concerns. 

SFCASA ADVOCACY AREAS:

Healthcare, Independent Living Skills, Community Connections, Placement, Education

How CASAs Can Advocate

  • CSEC, also known as DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking) occurs when a young person under 18 years exchanges sex for anything of value (money, food, clothes…etc.), and is illegal. Youth in the dependency system are extremely vulnerable to being sexually exploited while they are in foster care, and afterwards. Research finds that for youth who have experienced CSEC, 60-90% were involved in the dependency system at some point in their lives. Systems (healthcare, juvenile justice, dependency, education) often fail to recognize exploitation, and interventions mostly treat the effects or consequences of CSEC rather than the causes.

    It is important to recognize that young people who trade for sex seldom see themselves as victims. From the perspective of a young person in the dependency system, selling sex can be viewed as a way they take some control over their lives. Also, some survivors of CSEC have reported that there was nothing that someone could have told them to help them either avoid being recruited into exploitation, or to help them with exiting. Finally, a young person engaged in CSEC activity is still a whole person who has strengths and other things going on in their lives.

    If a young person has experienced commercial sexual exploitation, some of the trauma related diagnoses they experience can include:

    • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    • Anxiety/Depression

    • Eating Disorders

    • Suicidal Thoughts

    • Self-Injury

    • Substance Abuse

    • Acute Stress Disorder

    • Dissociative Disorders

    • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

    • Conduct Disorder

    • Bipolar Disorder

    Understanding the often severe psychological impacts of CSEC can inform advocacy for robust mental health services for the youth.

  • Talk with your team first:

    • If you have concerns that a youth may be vulnerable to exploitation, speak with your Case Supervisor or the youth’s social worker rather than trying to investigate on your own. It is not a CASA’s role to confirm or “solve” cases of CSEC — your role is to support, observe, and connect the youth with appropriate services. San Francisco CASA

    • SFCASA uses the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE‑IT) to assess strengths and vulnerabilities related to CSEC. SFCASA also partners with HSA‑FCS to offer a CSEC prevention curriculum called The Cool Aunt Series. Please talk with your Case Supervisor if this may be an appropriate option.

    • CASAs can play a pivotal role in supporting vulnerable young people and helping them access services. Please review the Continuum of Concern document to familiarize yourself with common signs of vulnerability to CSEC/DMST, and always consult with your Case Supervisor if concerns arise.

    Supportive Actions Include: 

    • Discuss concerns with the child’s caseworker and supervisor.  

    • Encourage connections with trauma-informed providers familiar with CSEC.  

    • Build trusting, non-judgmental relationships; listen and affirm what the youth share.  

    • Share information about safe resources, including hotlines and community support. 

    • Practice harm reduction and safety planning, focusing on the youth’s voice and choices. 

    • SFCASA partners with HSA-FCS to offer a CSEC prevention curriculum called The Cool Aunt Series. Please talk with your Case Supervisor about this option. 

    Language Matters:

    • Avoid labeling the youth as a “victim” or using terms like “prostitution” or “exploitation” unless the youth use them first. Instead, use open-ended questions about their feelings, concerns, and goals to encourage dialogue and trust.

    • The Cool Aunt Series CSEC Prevention Curriculm for youth at risk of being exploited. Please get in touch with the PSW to request access to this curriculum.

    • Becoming Me CSEC Intervention Curriculum for youth who have been impacted by exploitation or trafficking. SFCASA can provide digital and hard copies of this curriculum upon request.

    • Social Media Safety Guide for parents and caregivers. Survivor informed guidance on how to reduce vulnerability to online exploitation.

    • Village is Possible: Credible peer mentors who can speak directly to impacted youth upon request. Please ask your Case Supervisor for more information.

    • Elevate Academy: Free online professional development for survivors of human trafficking to support financial independence and safety.

    • Annie Cannons (tech education for survivors)

  • Hotline

    Direct Services

    • Hope Center (SF SafeHouse) – Drop-in support, case management, harm reduction for exploited women and gender-expansive individuals. 

    Youth Programs

    Complementary Local Supports (Trauma, Abuse, Crisis)

    Even if not specific to CSEC, these organizations often support youth with overlapping needs, such as trauma recovery, violence exposure, crisis response, housing instability, and healthy development: 

  • Hotlines & Crisis

    County Services

    • San Mateo County Human Trafficking Program – DA-led collaboration for trafficking response. 

    • San Mateo County Children & Family Services – Youth safety, CSEC referrals. 

    Youth & Homeless Services

    • StarVista – Crisis intervention, counseling, youth stabilization services. 

  • Hotlines & Direct Services 

    County Services 

    Youth Housing & Outreach 

  • Hotline

    Direct Services

    • MISSSEY – Specialized support for CSEC youth: case management, mentoring, healing spaces. 

    County Programs 

    Additional Youth Support

  • Hotlines & Crisis

    • Bill Wilson Center – CSEC-informed case management, crisis housing, and family reunification. 

    Specialized Youth Services

    • The HUB Youth Center – Drop-in center for foster youth transitioning to adulthood. 

    County Programs

  • ✔ Safety First: If a youth is in imminent danger, call emergency services (911) and report concerns to the CPS hotline as your agency protocol directs.  

    ✔ Trauma-Informed Approach: Support youth with strength-based, non-judgmental communication and validate their experiences without assuming them incorrect. 

    ✔ Self-Care: Working with CSEC-impacted youth can be emotionally intense. Prioritize your own well-being to sustain advocacy over time. 

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