CLC has been a leader in Los Angeles County’s continued efforts to eradicate Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). We have spearheaded innovative court projects, advocated at the Board of Supervisors, the State Legislature and across various child serving agencies for best practices to meet the needs of children and youth who have experienced CSE, and invested significant resources to provide intensive services for foster youth impacted by trafficking.
CLC has actively participated in various committees including those with the following topics:
- CSEC State Wide Action Team
- LA County CSEC Steering Committee
- ICAN CSEC Committee
- LA County Victim Witness Protocol Committee
- Human Trafficking Task Force and;
- Los Angeles County “No Such thing as a Child Prostitute” Campaign.
CLC’s CSEC Team continues to grow and improve our practices to best serve the CSEC community. Our attorneys and case managers are dedicated to building rapport with our clients and providing support as they navigate the system. Our team provides resources, helps clients find safe housing, attends meetings with our clients and provides support when they testify in court.
My attorney has supported me in so many ways. She has helped me completely change the way I function and helped me improve on my public speaking. All that has been a big help to me in my everyday life. She has supported me throughout the years with my new life as a mother. I have felt respected by her and I respect her as well.
Kennya R., CLC Client
CSEC Action Team – What It Is and What It Does
The CSEC Action Team Executive Committee is responsible for planning and facilitating the quarterly meetings and learning opportunities, ensuring the meetings address the key challenges and needs of organizations and agencies serving youth impacted by CSE.
Executive team members who guide the Action Team’s work include:
Co-chair Kate Walker Brown, Senior Director, National Center for Youth Law (NCYL)
Co-chair Leslie Heimov, Executive Director, Children’s Law Center of California (CLC)
Hon. Craig E. Arthur, Juvenile Presiding Judge of the Orange County Juvenile Court
Susan Abrams, Deputy Director, CLC
Vida Castaneda, Senior Analyst, Judicial Council of California
Darla Chavez Chavez, Senior Program Associate, NCYL
Maria Contreras, Senior Community Policy Associate, NCYL
Julie McCormick, Policy Director, CLC
Sawan Vaden, Executive Director, Community Against Sexual Harm