Rotary meeting discusses Santa Barbara County’s response to sex trafficking concerns
SOLVANG, Calif. - The inside story of sexual exploitation of children and sex trafficking concerns in Santa Barbara County has been detailed to members of the Rotary in the Santa Ynez Valley in a special session.
Thursday afternoon, the Solvang Rotary Club had a presentation on awareness and prevention training concerning commercial sexual exploitation of children. It was held at Mission Santa Ines.
Rotary has made a global push for all Rotary Clubs to communicate and educate their communities about this problem.
Among the speakers was Sally Cook from Olive Crest's Hope Refuge Campus which protects and redirects children who have been involved in trafficking.
Also speaking via video, was Alia Azariah from the Safehouse Project, who is a survivor.
The Central Coast area is said to be a state corridor for trafficking. "The fastest and largest grossing areas are, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. So girls and boys are moved up and down the state. And so Santa Barbara, not only is our go to town, but it's also a tourist city. The valley is no different. It's no different at all."
Rotary President Valerie Kissell said a strong message needs go be sent so, "pedophiles and the perverts know that Santa Barbara county is not their playground and that they need to leave our children alone."
Cook said, "want to know why it is happening it is big business? It is the billions of dollars here in the United States."
She showed a video of a young woman telling he story inside the criminal sex trafficking system in Ventura and Santa Barbara. The message also connected it to the porn industry.
The District Attorney's office is now able to use new just approved laws that are tougher than ever. "Here in California we made great great gains this year. It is not just a misdemeanor now to be caught with a minor, it is a felony. Part of the three strikes laws."
The Superintendent of the Santa Ynez School district says as part of required health education there is a special unit on healthy relationships and it provides.
Santa Ynez Valley Union School District Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Sheehan said they have, "resources and needs through our health and wellness center. If you need any support or you know of anybody who is not in a healthy relationship."
She says the outreach is ongoing. "I think it's really important is that the more people that know that this exists and know the signs to look for and know the support that students and families and even, young adults need. You can never get too much information out ."
The Rotary is getting this crime trend with children out as a top priority.
Kissell, "so this is something that rotary has embraced and all of the different clubs are doing their own, you know, take on how to eliminate this type of crime. But here we decided that we wanted to promote awareness and prevention."
Olive Crest was also presented with a donation check and newly made quilts.
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