Dr. Sandie Morgan and Melissa Gomez, Project Director of PACT, discuss many of the different facets of child trafficking. Melissa Gomez explains the goals and purpose of the organization PACT and their role in the fight against human trafficking. They explain the different aspects of labor trafficking and go over the red flags and signs of human trafficking.Melissa Gomez

Melissa Gomez has contributed 20 years of service to the anti-trafficking movement. Her international and local leadership has been instrumental in establishing multi-disciplinary coalitions and in coordinating comprehensive care to survivors of both labor and sex trafficking in Europe and the Central Valley, California.  As the Chair of the Central Valley Freedom Coalition and Program Manager of Fresno’s Central Valley Against Human Trafficking, she contracted with partnering agencies to provide services throughout six central valley counties.  Additionally, she acted as regional liaison to facilitate 24-7 trauma response in partnership with Polaris’ National Human Trafficking Hotline.Melissa is dedicated to the advancement and integration of diverse voices to pioneer systemic change and co-create pathways of empowerment. Ms. Gomez is currently the acting Director of the Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking Project for the Child and Family Policy Institute of California, in conjunction with the California Department of Social Services facilitating a statewide model of cross-coordination to strengthen child trafficking programs within child welfare agencies in California. The project serves to improve outcomes and services to children and youth who are impacted by sex and/or labor trafficking. Melissa resides in Marina on the Central Coast of California and is the proud mother of two amazing and creative boys.

Key Points

Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking (PACT), preventing and addressing child trafficking, was established in 2014, in relation to the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act.PACT's main goal is to address systemic issues concerning child welfare, the most effective strategy to fighting against these issues being collaboration.PACT connects people, which connects resources to places they need to be to fight this battle.There are forms of legal child labor; such as, a child 14 years old or older getting compensation for their work and working in an environment that is not harmful to their development. Any type of child labor that falls out of that definition is child exploitation and illegal.Labor trafficking is still widely underreported and misunderstood.According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 38% of cases involving trafficked minors, the minor was trafficked by a family member or foster family.It's very important for everyone in the community to know the signs of human trafficking and look for them.

Resources

What is PACT?Child and Family Policy Institute of CaliforniaCSECEHT Ep. 73 – Hidden Girl: The True Story of a Modern Child Slave – A Conversation With Shyima HallHTIAM-14 Human Trafficking Identification Questionnaire233 – Bella Hounakey: A Fierce Survivor Advocate PACT's   Child Welfare Response to Child Labor Trafficking in California is a research brief and accompanying  Child Labor Trafficking Online Toolkit, which highlights a case study of ten child welfare agencies participating in the Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking Project and their efforts to implement a comprehensive approach to child trafficking.Child Labor Trafficking Desk Guide - Basic Awareness Guide for Child Welfare, Probation, and Partners.Identifying and Responding to Child Labor Trafficking - Red Flags/Indicator ToolCalifornia Service Provider MatrixCovenant House HTIAM-14 Assessment - Validated Screening/Assessment Tool for Older Youth

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