Juvenile Justice Fund

The Juvenile Justice Fund’s (JJF) Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation, also known as CEASE, is one of the nation’s most aggressive programs in combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).

JJF’s focus on CSEC was a direct result of a need perceived by the Fulton County Juvenile Court, whereby sexually exploited girls were being re-victimized through incarceration and detention because of the lack of appropriate placement options. CEASE was created to raise community awareness and offer advocacy and prevention services for CSEC survivors and youth at risk of exploitation.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue recognized CEASE in 2005 for its work on behalf of victims of sexual exploitation.

CEASE Projects include:

Regional CSEC Assessment Center
The Juvenile Justice Fund has been engaged with the Georgia Legislature in the past year and a half to fill a gap that exists in the continuum of care for commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC). In late 2006, members of the JJF staff met with Barton Law Clinic and the lobbyist for the Women’s Policy Group to determine what the CSEC legislative agenda would be for the 2007 legislative session. Through an informal needs assessment of services available for CSEC victims, it was determined that the lack of a regional assessment center represented the most glaring omission, and left local law enforcement with no alternatives to detention when CSEC victims were picked up. Consequently, JJF has worked collaboratively with community partners to secure $700,000 in the Georgia Department of Human Resources budget to fund assessment beds for CSEC victims through the establishment of a Regional Assessment Center.

CEASE conducts intake on all residents at the Assessment Center to ensure that all residents are appointed a CEASE advocate and are connected to prevention, court advocacy, placement and aftercare services offered by the program.

Prevention and Awareness
CEASE Prevention and Awareness Training and Education equips community providers and agencies with the ability to identify child victims of prostitution and those youth at-risk on the streets. CEASE trainings help these stakeholders thoroughly understand the risk factors that lead to the victimization of children by adults, thereby encouraging law enforcement and social service agencies to treat these children appropriately as victims and not suspects in criminal activity. Trainings focus on issues surrounding the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), including the definition of sexual exploitation, types of exploitation, profiles of the victims, profiles of the predators, the consequences of having CSEC in our communities, myths surrounding exploitation, how adults can help, and additional resources. Since January 2007, CEASE has provided awareness training to Fulton County DFCS, Fulton County Juvenile Court, Circle of Friends, Tinawane Social Services, Underdue Social Services, Attachment and Bonding LLC, Alliance for Change Through Treatment LLC, Angela’s House, Mt. Pisgah Private Academy, Oak Hill Community Service Board, Family United Services, Emory School of Medicine, Georgia State University System, and the Children and Teen Foundation. In 2008, all training will be coordinated in partnership with our A Future. Not A Past. Campaign to Stop Prostitution of Children in Georgia. JJF also partners with community providers to offer additional enrichment and support programs for CEASE girls following case closure.

Court Advocacy
Exploited youth are victims of terrible crimes, but they often find themselves in delinquency court hearings for status offenses and unruly behavior--all symptomatic of exploitation. In delinquency court, these young victims are not afforded the opportunity to have a court appointed special advocate. Court Advocates are needed to navigate services and placement for this high-risk underserved youth population. Many exploited youth are homeless, estranged from family, not enrolled in school, low functioning, and/or have intensive mental health treatment needs. CEASE Advocates provide case management, crisis counseling, victim support, placement assistance, and treatment services to meet the physical, emotional, and educational needs of these youth.

Additionally, these victims are often relied upon to testify as witnesses against their offenders in adult criminal court hearings. Working closely with victim advocates in prosecutor and police offices, advocates help to navigate the court processes and connect with other support persons and services.

Placement: Angela's House
All too often, youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation come into the care of CEASE in need of a safe, supportive and therapeutic placement where they can stabilize, heal, and remain safe from the people and situation that contributed to their victimization. In 2008, CEASE will seek to expand to serve five surrounding Atlanta metro counties including Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton in an effort to support the new Regional Assessment Center for CSEC victims.

Angela's House
In 1999, through the passion, hard work and collaboration of several women leaders, including key members of the Juvenile Justice Fund, Fulton County Juvenile Court and The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Angela’s House came into existence. These community stakeholders set out to raise awareness of the problem of child commercial sexual exploitation in Atlanta, which had not been publicly addressed up to that point, to change legislation to reflect the criminality of the pimping of children and raise funds to secure a facility that would provide safe, stable housing and appropriate treatment for girls on the street who had been victims of commercial sexual exploitation. They were successful in their public awareness campaign and soon a law was passed making the pandering of children a felony. Shortly after, in answers to their prayers, a generous woman donated Angela’s House. In 2002, JJF adopted Angela’s House as one of its pilot programs.

JJF established Angela’s House as the first safe house in the Southeast for girls, ages 11-17, that have been subjected to sexual exploitation. Located safely and securely away from predators, Angela’s House becomes the full-time residence of up to six girls at a time. In a nurturing, family-like environment, the girls receive several months of professional treatment for their physical and psychological wounds, enabling them to resume normal lives as children and teens.

Since its original inception as an emergency shelter, Angela’s House continues to expand beyond expectations. In 2004, JJF entered an agreement with Inner Harbour, a local, licensed nonprofit and reputable therapeutic provider, to operate Angela’s House as a group home under the management of JJF and provide expanded services, including experiential and outdoor therapy and recreation. Program activities are gender-specific and led by staff that have been trained by CEASE to specifically deal with issues surrounding CSEC. In addition to receiving individual, group and family counseling, additional grants from the Atlanta Falcons and Fulton County Human Services Department have provided the girls with opportunities to participate in structured activities such as yoga, equine therapy (horsemanship), Journalism Workshops, and leadership activities in collaboration with GOAL (Girls Opportunities for Adventure and Leadership), Literary Group, West African drumming, and training through Cirque du Monde. The girls also receive accredited schooling which enables them to resume classes at grade level upon discharge.

Angela’s House serves approximately 18 girls annually. More than 125 girls have been served by the program since its inception (as of June 30, 2008).

Re-entry and Aftercare
While services provided through Angela’s House are necessary for intervention and critical to the healing process, the real challenge begins for those girls who return to their old environments. Prior to Discharge from Angela’s House, the treatment team drafts a discharge plan with the resident and her family. Upon discharge, it is common for the juvenile court case to be closed, unless the child remains on probation at the request of the court. For those girls not on probation, aftercare and follow up program participation are voluntary, at the discretion of the adult caretaker to whom the child is released. Aftercare and follow up consist of IFI Services (Intensive Family Intervention). IFI services are intended to improve family functioning by clinically stabilizing living arrangements, promoting reunification or preventing the utilization of out-of-home therapeutic placements for the identified youth. The IFI team providing services to the youth includes a Licensed Team Leader, a Licensed Therapist and up to two Family Support Specialists. The length of the services provided is up to three months, however, services may be reauthorized as needed.

Member/Staff Login

Calendar Admin