Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $450,000)
This project supports efforts of local communities and organizations to develop or enhance their mentoring capacity, facilitate outreach to child victims or youth at risk (17 years old or younger) of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic sex trafficking (CST/DST), and increase the availability of direct services to youth. The population to be served is girls and boys, including LGBTQ youth who are at risk or are victims of CSE and DST. The grantees will develop or update strategies to recruit and maintain mentors to serve this population; begin or enhance efforts to identify and enroll girls and boys, including LGBTQ youth who are in need of services; and provide needed services to these youth. Grantees will join current and previously funded grantees and work with OJJDP's training and technical assistance provider to develop or enhance mentoring service models and mentor training based on best practices.
The Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Oakland will leverage existing best practices and partnerships, including partnerships with the Alameda County District Attorneys office and the Oakland Police Department to fill service gaps for youth at risk and child victims of CSE/DST.
The project will create a regional response to this type of child victimization through mentoring and direct services. Specifically, Catholic Charities and its project partners will provide wraparound services for high-risk youth and victims of CSE/DST and establish a safe house where these youth can receive critical services. These services will include, but are not limited to, trauma-informed mental health counseling, health and wellness service coordination, case management, including safety planning, benefits enrollment, legal advocacy, substance abuse referrals and educational support. By providing physical shelter and long-term support through mentoring, Catholic Charities will reduce the likelihood of the youths further victimization and their involvement with the juvenile justice system. CA/NCF