CSEC
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)
They Are Children. They Deserve Protection.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, commonly referred to as CSEC, occurs when a child or adolescent is sexually exploited in exchange for money or something else of value.
When a person under the age of 18 is involved in a commercial sex act, force, fraud, or coercion does NOT have to be present for it to be considered human trafficking under federal law.
The exchange does not have to involve cash. Food, shelter, transportation, drugs, clothing, gifts, or other things of value may be used as part of the exploitation.
Most importantly, commercially sexually exploited children should be recognized as children in need of protection and support—not as willing participants in their own exploitation.
Exploitation Doesn’t Always Look Like Trafficking:
A young person may not identify what is happening to them as trafficking.
Exploitation can develop through a relationship with someone the youth trusts or believes cares about them. Grooming may involve attention, affection, gifts, promises, a place to stay, transportation, drugs, money, or a sense of belonging.
Technology can also play a role. Social media, messaging platforms, gaming, and other online spaces may be used to make contact with young people, build relationships, identify vulnerabilities, or facilitate exploitation.
Sometimes the behaviors adults notice first are not the exploitation itself.
They may see a young person running away, missing school, spending time with an older boyfriend or girlfriend, receiving unexplained gifts, becoming increasingly secretive, changing friend groups, engaging in risky online behavior, or becoming involved with law enforcement.
The behavior we see may only be part of the story.
Olive’s CSEC Response:
Young people experiencing commercial sexual exploitation often have complex needs that cannot be addressed by one person, agency, or system.
Olive Charitable Organization provides specialized support to commercially sexually exploited youth through individualized case management, advocacy, safety planning, education, referrals, and connections to community resources.
Our approach is trauma-informed and youth-centered. We work to build trust, understand each young person’s individual circumstances and goals, and proide consistent support without defining them by what has happened to them.
A Multidisciplinary Response:
CSEC cases often intersect with multiple systems, including child welfare, law enforcement, probation, behavioral health, education, healthcare, and other community services.
Olive participates in Madera County’s multidisciplinary response to commercially sexually exploited youth, working alongside community partners to help coordinate services and ensure that young people are connected with appropriate support.
Collaboration allows each agency to bring its area of expertise to the table while working toward a shared goal:
the safety, stability, and well-being of the young person.
Support Beyond the Immediate Crisis:
Leaving an exploitative situation does not mean that everything immediately becomes easier.
A young person may still be navigating trauma, family relationships, school, housing, the juvenile justice or child welfare systems, behavioral health needs, transportation issues, relationships, and many other challenges.
Olive’s role does not end when the immediate crisis ends.
Our case management and advocacy services are designed to provide continued support, help young people navigate available resources, and encourage the development of healthy relationships, resilience, stability, and independence.
Prevention Matters:
We don’t want the first conversation about human trafficking to happen after a young person has already been exploited.
Olive provides prevention and education designed to help young people understand healthy relationships, vulnerabilities, grooming, exploitation, online risks, boundaries, and how to seek help.
We also educate parents, caregivers, educators, professionals, and community members because young people should never carry the responsibility for preventing exploitation alone.
EXPLORE OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS →
Concerned About a Young Person?
You do not need to determine whether a young person is being trafficked before asking for help.
If something does not seem right, you are concerned about possible exploitation, or you simply don’t know what you’re seeing, reach out.
Olive can listen to your concerns, help identify available resources, and assist in determining appropriate next steps.