Advisory Board for the CSEC Action Team
Centering the leadership of people with lived experience and survivors is critical to effectively serving children and youth who have experienced and are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). California has created space for individuals with lived experience to lead and is committed to elevating and incorporating key insight and input of lived experience experts and survivors into state and local policies, practices and decision making. This has been made possible through state and philanthropic funding to staff and support the CSEC Action Team’s Advisory Board.
In 2016, in collaboration with the National Center for Youth Law, the California Child Welfare Council’s Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Action Team launched the Advisory Board, comprised of adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation–commonly known as child sex trafficking. Since then, 32 individuals with lived experience have served on three cohorts of the Advisory Board.
Introducing the new members of the CSEC Action Team Advisory Board
A warm welcome to the new members of the CSEC Action Team Advisory Board! Their diverse backgrounds and experiences will enhance our work in shaping policies and supporting youth impacted by CSE.
Hear from Former Board Members
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Members of the advisory board shape local and state policy and practice through direct consultation with state and local public agencies as well as community partners. During their tenure, board members develop and hone their personal and professional skills through professional development and other learning opportunities. Additionally, the Board provides a space for team building, growth, and healing. The Board, now in its eighth year, is a community – one that is established during the members’ time on the board and that endures far beyond.
Through its consultative work, the Board provides guidance and feedback to stakeholders seeking to improve the ways youth and families impacted by and vulnerable to CSE are served across the state including the CSEC Action Team, California Department of Social Services (CDSS), other governmental agencies, community-based organizations, caregivers, among others. The Board members provide their expertise on topics that include but are not limited to: policies to identify and serve youth experiencing CSE, prevention and intervention strategies, placement and housing services and supports, training curricula, individual cases, and presentations. While the Advisory Board’s focus is to center and elevate the voices, leadership, and expertise of those with lived experience, especially youth and families, we recognize that survivors of CSE are whole people and have expertise and experiences beyond their exploitation. Members of prior cohorts bring a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and interests – members are parents, chefs, tribal leaders, executive directors, founders of organizations, and much more…