Coalition To Abolish Slavery & Trafficking

TO SERVE SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING & TO PROMOTE THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS

SHELTER:CAST'S SHELTERS PROVIDE PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE HOUSING FOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. THROUGH A HOST OF SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THEY ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CLIENTS ESTABLISH INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY, TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND TO EXPAND THEIR OWN SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS.CAST IS NOW PROVIDING 'RAPID REHOUSING' FOR SURVIVORS INCLUDING RENT AND MOVING COSTS, AND DEDICATED STAFF TO ENSURE SURVIVORS ARE PLACED IN SAFE, PERMANENT HOUSING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD AS SURVIVORS TELL US THAT PERMANENT HOUSING IS THE NUMBER ONE BARRIER TO REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.

SOCIAL SERVICES:CAST'S INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS A CLIENT-CENTERED, TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO HELPING SURVIVORS ALONG THEIR JOURNEY TO FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE GOALS AND NECESSARY NEXT STEPS. SERVICES INCLUDE BASIC NECESSITIES, SAFETY PLANNING, SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING, MEDICAL, EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, APPLYING FOR STATE/FEDERAL BENEFITS AND MORE.CAST'S 24-HOUR HOTLINE PROVIDES A REAL-TIME, IN-PERSON RESPONSE TO ESCAPING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF RECEIVING A CALL, OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS MEET VICTIMS WHERE THEY ARE, SUPPLY THEM WITH A WARM MEAL AND BACKPACK FULL OF HYGIENE ITEMS, AND IMMEDIATELY COORDINATE SHELTER AND SAFETY PLANS.

LEGAL SERVICES:CAST ATTORNEYS EMPOWER SURVIVORS TO ASSERT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND CHOOSE APPROPRIATE REMEDIES TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH SURVIVORS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC-INTEREST ATTORNEYS AND NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE PROVIDED CULTURALLY-SENSITIVE, VICTIM-CENTERED LEGAL REPRESENTATION. ALONG WITH ITS IN-HOUSE LEGAL TEAM, CAST'S PRO BONO ATTORNEYS DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND TALENT ASSISTING WITH IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY, CRIMINAL VICTIM-WITNESS ADVOCACY, CIVIL LITIGATION, FAMILY LAW AND CUTTING EDGE POLICY. CAST'S COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE AND TRAINING FOR SERVICE ADVOCATES ON THE FULL SPECTRUM OF LEGAL REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, IN-PERSON TRAINING AND REGULAR WORKING GROUP CALLS. CAST TTA IS NOW OFFERING FREE SUPPORT TO ATTORNEYS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ASSISTING TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS WITH LEGAL NEEDS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF LAW: IMMIGRATION, CRIMINAL RE-ENTRY, REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, ETHICS, CRIMINAL VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCACY, PROGRAM SUPPORT, REFERRALS, CIVIL AND MORE.DRAWING FROM NEARLY TWO DECADES OF DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CAST HAS CATALYZED FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND LEGISLATION AND HAS WON THE RESPECT AND PARTNERSHIP OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF POLICY LEADERS. CAST BEGINS ALL ITS POLICY INITIATIVES BY ENGAGING ITS MAIN CONSTITUENTS-SURVIVORS THEMSELVES. THESE INITIATIVES CENTER ON SURVIVOR EXPERIENCES AND HIGHLIGHT SURVIVOR ADVOCACY. CAST NOT ONLY INTRODUCES ANTI-TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO WORKS HARD TO ENSURE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.

YOUTH PROGRAM:CAST RECOGNIZES THE SPECIALIZED NEEDS OF MINOR AND TRANSITION AGE YOUTH (TAY) SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DEVELOPED SPECIFIC YOUTH-FOCUSED PROGRAMMING. YOUTH SERVICES INCLUDE MONTHLY GROUP ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON EMPOWERMENT, POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATION; COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH INTERVENTIONS GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH; AND INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING VARIOUS SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WHEN NECESSARY. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM OFFERS INTERNSHIPS FOR TAY WHICH SEEK TO BUILD JOB SKILLS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DIRECT WORK EXPERIENCE AND MENTORSHIP.SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP:CAST'S WORK IS DIRECTLY INFORMED BY THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF THE CLIENTS IT SERVES. THE SURVIVOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, SURVIVOR ADVISORY CAUCUS(LAUNCHED IN 2003) AND NATIONAL SURVIVOR NETWORK (LAUNCHED IN 2011), BRING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY OF SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR PEER-TO-PEER MENTORSHIP AND SURVIVOR-LED ADVOCACY. THEIR VOICES ON POLICY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS HAVE LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS IN BOTH CALIFORNIA AND FEDERAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING LAWS. BY CONNECTING SURVIVORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CAST SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES SURVIVORS TO REALIZE THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND TO VALUE THEIR INSIGHT, NOT JUST AS SURVIVORS, BUT AS EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.PARTNERSHIPS & OUTREACH:CAST IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADING ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS FORGING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MEET THE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SOCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.