Commercially Sexually Exploited Children

How to help

For Service Providers

Commercially sexually exploited children may look like many of the young people you assist every day. In fact, you may have provided services to victims without realizing their circumstances; therefore, you may have missed an opportunity to provide them with needed support or to help them escape from their abusive situation. Check out How to Help for tips on identifying and assisting victims of child prostitution.

Victim Assistance

If you believe that you may have come into contact with a commercially sexually exploited child, it is important that you collaborate with key service providers (social and health service providers, state Department of Social and Health Services, and law enforcement) to help the victims get the protection and services they need. If you are in Seattle/King County, please seek the services of YouthCare and/or the Seattle Police Department.

YouthCare offers a continuum of services for commercially sexually exploited children (ages 12 to 17), including a community based advocacy program for prostituted youth. For information on advocacy, emergency shelter and residential recovery program services for commercially sexually exploited children, check out The Bridge Program.

Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, victims of human trafficking in the U.S. who are non-citizens may be eligible for a special visa and comprehensive benefits and services. Victims who are U.S. citizens are already eligible to receive many of these benefits. Prostituted youth are also entitled to crime victim compensation through Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

To learn more about available resources, see Resources and Benefits.

For Family and Friends

In addition to the resources described above, the Women's Justice Center of Santa Rosa, California has published a very helpful guide called "A Guide for Mothers, Grandmothers and Others for Helping a Girl Caught in Prostitution or Sex Trafficking." It is also published in Spanish.

Seattle Human Services Department
Street address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 5800, Seattle, WA 98104
Mailing address: PO Box 34215, Seattle, WA 98124-4215

Phone: 206-386-1001
Fax: 206-233-5119
TTY/TTD: 206-233-2778

Accommodations for people with disabilities provided upon request.