2022 NYC Child Trafficking Prevention Conference: An 18 Workshop Virtual Event

• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy, NYC Administration for Children's Services

An extremely comprehensive view into the potential etiology of child trafficking, beginning with infant attachment and behavioral learning influences. The attachment pattern developed between an infant and the primary caregiver can have extensive influence across the entire life cycle. The deficits and resultant needs that develop in insecure attachment types will unconsciously impact upon subsequent relationship choices. The workshop will demonstrate how the development of certain attachment types in infants can lead to subsequent juvenile trafficking vulnerability, and how traffickers fulfill the inherent social-emotional deficits to trauma bond with, and exploit youth, then proceeds to teen cognitive and social-emotional development, the impact of trauma, relational influences, recruitment techniques, trauma bonding, red flags and language affiliated with the commercial sex industry, and concluding with engagement tips for work with trafficked youth. Based upon the timeframe, PowerPoint, media clips, and case scenario exercises will be utilized to facilitate learning. Originally presented at Shared Hope International's 2018 Juvenile Sex Trafficking Conference ("Attachment, Trauma Bonding) and many 2019 - 2021 trafficking related conferences.

Understanding Child Trafficking: A Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective Webex Link

• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy, NYC Administration for Children's Services

Society's normalization and glorification of exploitation through the attitudes and norms expressed within media both overtly and covertly promulgate over sexualization and unhealthy relationships for adolescent and pre-adolescent youth. The normalizing concepts within media ads, museum art, films, shows, social media influencers and music videos serve to numb reactions and promulgate a sense of false glamour concerning sexual exploitation. This detrimental impact upon juvenile social-emotional development coupled with immature cognitive processes and often previously experienced trauma can influence the concept that exploitation is not only acceptable, but also appealing. The vulnerability to trafficking is also deeply enhanced through deficits and resultant needs that develop in insecure attachment types which unconsciously impact upon subsequent relational choices. The workshop will focus upon the identification of a variety of media platforms that not only influence, but actually normalize and/or glamorize exploitation. Media ads, film extracts, music videos, museum art, social media influencers and video games will be utilized as influential examples. Warning: Some media material is explicit in nature, so persons who are sensitive, easily offended or have the potential for traumatization/re-traumatization should not attend. Presented at Shared Hope International's 2018 Juvenile Sex Trafficking Conference (Normalization and Glorification of Exploitation) and many 2019 - 2021 trafficking related conferences.

Endorsing Exploitation: The Influence of Media on the Developing Vulnerable Adolescent Webex Link

• Expert Panel Presentation

This workshop will serve to highlight the work and opportunities of NYC and NYS trafficking and vulnerable youth related task forces and coalitions and work groups. Each task force/coalition/work group will have 15 to 20 minutes to talk about their history, accomplishments, future plans and participation qualifications, followed by questions from the audience.

Participating Experts:

• Kings County Human Trafficking Task Force
  • David Weiss, Esq. (Brooklyn DA) and Anita Teekah, Esq. (Safe Horizon), Chairs
• Staten Island Human Trafficking Task Force
  • Jevet Johnson, Esq. (Richmond DA) and Dr. Dana Kaplan (Northwell), Chairs
• Bronx Human Trafficking Task Force
  • Dr. Peter Sherman (BronxCare Health Center), Chair
• NYC Anti-Trafficking Coalition
  • Janet O'Connell (Childhood USA), Chair
• NYS Anti-Trafficking Coalition
  • Dorchen Leidholdt, Esq. and Alexi Meyers, Esq. (Sanctuary for Families), Chairs
• NYC Task Force to End Girls' Incarceration
  • Mahsa Jafarian MA (Vera Institute for Justice), Chair
• NY City Agency Human Trafficking Work Group
  • Hannah Pennington, Esq. (Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence), Chair

"Task Forces and Work Groups and Coalitions - Oh My!" (NYC / NYS Task Forces) Webex Link

• Homeland Security Investigations, New York Field Office:
  • Michele Senft, Supervisory Special Agent, HSI NY Child Exploitation Investigations Team
  • Josh Croft, Special Agent
  • Joseph Brodsky, LMSW, Forensic Interview Specialist

The mission of the HSI NY Child Exploitation and Investigations Team (CEIT) is to protect children from crimes of physical and online sexual abuse. The unique skill sets of the team allows HSI NY CEIT to employ cutting edge investigative techniques to cases involving the dark web, cryptocurrency transactions, child sex tourism, social media applications facilitating online enticement of minors, and identifying administrators of sites that advertise and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM). HSI NY CEIT is continuously pursuing new ways to reveal the true identities of predators who attempt to maintain anonymity by utilizing social media applications and the Dark Web to victimize children through the production, live-streaming, distribution, and purchase of child sex abuse material (CSAM). In order to achieve a more victim-centric approach, HSI has deployed Forensic Interview Specialist (FIS) to all field offices. The HSI NY FIS is housed within the CEIT and serves both CEIT and the entire field office with victims of child exploitation and human trafficking. Learn about how CEIT's work has made a huge difference in protecting children and identifying predators.

Protecting Children Online and Revealing Predators - HSI NY's Child Exploitation and Investigations Team Webex Link

• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy
• Clifton Robertson, LMSW, Child Trafficking Specialist Residential Social Worker, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy

In September 2020, ACS released Policy and Procedure 2020/05: Identifying, Assessing, and Safety Planning with Child Sex and Labor Trafficking Victims, which articulates guidelines and procedures for ACS and provider agency staff in identifying children and youth for sex and/or labor trafficking, and for safety planning, coordinating with law enforcement, and making referrals for appropriate services. The Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) is the electronic mechanism that all ACS and provider agency staff must use to screen children for sex trafficking. This training will provide an overview of child trafficking, a description of the legislation that led to mandated sex trafficking screenings for children in the NYS and NYC child welfare systems, a detailed overview of the policy and a step by step walk through of CTDB screening procedures, including a hands-on demonstration of CTDB screenings. This training is a must for all NYC child welfare staff and any other professional who needs to understand ACS' trafficking policy and to perform the screenings correctly.

NYC's Child Welfare Trafficking Policy and Screening Children for Sex Trafficking in ACS' Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) Webex Link

• Tori Curbelo, MPH, Director of Education, Training, and Advocacy at LifeWay Network

Millions of children (and adults) are labor trafficked by being forced to work unbearably long hours, under inhumane conditions, and/or for little to no pay. Labor trafficking exists across the world and occurs in many locations, but overall, it tends to profit from the exploitation of the world's most vulnerable. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 20.9 million people are victims of forced labor and human trafficking and 5.5 million of those are children. Children can be labor trafficked through debt bondage, agriculture, construction, mining, retail, forced child begging, and domestic servitude. Fair Trade helps to reduce child (and adult) labor trafficking by providing farmers and workers a living wage for their work, which can sustain them and create opportunities for social and economic development (including sending children to school). When we purchase items or services that are developed in accordance with Fair Trade guidelines, we inadvertently participate in labor trafficking. This workshop will provide an overview of labor trafficking, the International Fairtrade Standards, Fairtrade Certification and Fairtrade's Child Labor and Forced Labor Guidelines, highlight industries that demonstrate the purchaser's connection to exploitation, and discuss how consumers can develop awareness towards ending their unknowing participation in labor exploitation.

Are YOU A Trafficker? - Labor Trafficking and Fair Trade Awareness Webex Link

A diverse variety of NYC programs that provide expertise in awareness and prevention work with trafficked and at-risk youth and adults. Each panelist/panelist group will have about ten minutes to describe their population and program, followed by participant Q & A.

• Day One
  • Billye Jones, LCSW, Director
• ECPAT-USA
  • Christian Toala, Ed.D., Director of Educational Initiatives
• END GBV - Family Justice Centers
  • Tesa Aroqueta, Director of Outreach, Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (END GBV)
• Garden of Hope
  • Sophia Yao, MHC-LP, Human Trafficking Counselor
• LifeWay Network
  • Tori Curbelo, MPH, Manager of Education, Training and Advocacy
• Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program Inc.
  • Marti MacGibbon, CADC-II, ACRPS, CAPMS, President
• Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center
  • Dr. Angela Diaz, MD, PhD, MPH, Director
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
  • Christie Morin, Program Manager, Children Missing From Care, Missing Children's Division
• NY Foundling Phoenix Program
  • Shelly Burke, LMHC, Program Director
  • Kamille Stine, LMHC, Assistant Vice President
  • Allison Markiewicz, LMSW, Program Supervisor
• Not on My Watch: Alternatives Program
  • Kioka Jones
• Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program
  • Eva Chávez, Training and Outreach Manager
• Sanctuary for Families JET Program, ATI and EMPOWER
  • Anna Thomas, Program Coordinator, Justice and Empowerment for Teens (JET) Initiative;
  • Gabrielle Prieto, Peer Care Navigator, The EMPOWER Center;
  • Letisha McCall, Supervising Social Worker, Anti-Trafficking Initiative
• Shared Hope International
  • Maria L. Kearl, J.D., Policy Council

Human Trafficking Expert Services Provider Panel Webex Link

This panel presentation will provide perspectives from the law enforcement and legal professionals who work together with child welfare providers to identify issues and discuss how their agencies contribute to enforcing the law and providing victim support and safety. Panelists will include professionals from the NYPD's Human Trafficking Unit, the FBI's Victim Specialist Program, ACS' Investigative Consultation Program's AWOL Recovery Team, and Family Court Legal Services, all five District Attorney offices, Legal Aid, Brooklyn Legal Defenders, and the NYC Law Department. Each panelist will have eight minutes to describe their program, followed by participant Q & A.

• Aylese Kanze, Esq., Director of Anti-Trafficking and Anti-CSEC Initiatives and Outcomes, Family Court Division, New York City Law Department
• Lt. Amy Capogna, New York City Police Department, Detective Bureau, Vice Enforcement Division, Major Case - Human Trafficking Team
• Sgt Robert Duplessis, New York City Police Department, Detective Bureau, Vice Enforcement Division, Major Case - Human Trafficking Team
• Laura Riso, Victim Specialist, Federal Bureau of Investigation
• ADA Justin McNabney, Esq., Deputy Chief, Human Trafficking Response Unit, Manhattan District Attorney's Office
• ADA David Weiss, Esq., Deputy Chief, Human Trafficking Unit, Kings County District Attorney's Office
• ADA Jessica Melton, Esq., Chief of the Human Trafficking Bureau, Office of Queens County District Attorney
• ADA Jevet Johnson, Esq., Chief, Special Victims Bureau, Office of the Richmond County District Attorney
• ADA Stephen M. Knoepfler, Esq., Chief, Human Trafficking Unit, Special Victims Division, Office of the Bronx County District Attorney
• Ian Sangenito, Esq., Executive Agency Counsel, Family Court Legal Services, NYC Administration for Children's Services
• Sgt. (retired) James Maloy, Supervisor, AWOL Recovery Team, Office of the Commissioner/Investigations, NYC Administration for Children's Services
• Suzanne Tomatore, Esq., Deputy Director, City Bar Justice Center
• Jillian Modzeleski, Esq., Senior Trial Attorney, Women's Defense Project, Brooklyn Defender Services
• Katherine (Cait) Mullen, Esq., Staff Attorney, Juvenile Rights Division, Brooklyn Legal Aid Society

Law Enforcement and Legal Perspectives on Child Trafficking Panel Webex Link

The highest expertise in NYC child abuse and/or human trafficking physicians tells it like it is! This wealth of knowledge and talent who work directly with the most vulnerable youth and adults in NYC will share information about their programs (many of which were self-developed) and encounters they have experienced. Each panelist will have about ten minutes to describe their program and work, followed by participant Q & A.

• Dr. Angela Diaz, MD, PhD, MPH., Director, Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center; Jean C. and James W. Crystal Professor in Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine. First Dean of Global Health, Social Justice, and Human Rights at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai Health System Task Force to Address Racism.
• Dr. Dana Kaplan, MD., Director of Child Abuse and Neglect, Founder and Director STAND Clinic, Department of Pediatrics. Staten Island University Hospital; Medical Director, Staten Island Child Advocacy Center. Associate Program Director, Pediatrics Residency Program. Associate Professor of Pediatrics.
• Dr. Santhosh Paulus, MD., Site Director, Northwell/Huntington, Board certification: American Board of Family Medicine. Assistant Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
• Dr. Lori Legano, MD., Director, Child Protection Services, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
• Dr. Nina Agrawal, MD., FAAP. Child Abuse Pediatrics Specialist.
• Dr. Peter Sherman, MD., MPH. Chairman, Pediatrics Department, BronxCare Hospital Center.
• Dr. Veronica Ades, MD., MPH, FACOG. Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jacobi Medical Center; Associate Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health; Adjunct Associate Professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology; Director, EMPOWER Clinic for Survivors of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Violence.
• Dr. Allen Keller, MD., Associate Professor of Medicine, NYU Langone; Founder, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture; Director, NYU School of Medicine Center for Health and Human Rights.
• Dr. Marie Leger, MD., Ph.D. Skin Cancer and Dermatology Institute, Reno, Nevada. Board certified in medical and cosmetic dermatology. Formerly, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell College of Medicine for two years and at New York University for four years. Dr. Leger is a veteran provider for the NYC Child Tattoo Removal Project.

Medical Experts Panel on Trafficking and Trauma Webex Link

• Marti MacGibbon, CADC-II, ACRPS, CAPMS, President of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, Inc., Human Trafficking Expert Consultant at the US Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and Expert Consultant at the US Office for Victims of Crime.

The power of addiction in trafficking has been recognized by the criminal justice system. Addiction can exacerbate a trafficked person's vulnerability, be part of a trafficker's means of coercing the captive person to submit, be a tool the trafficker uses to control the captive, and can be used by the captive person as a means of coping with the physical and mental traumas of being trafficked. Opioids in particular are an effective coercion tool for traffickers. Some traffickers recruit directly from substance use treatment facilities. After exiting the trafficking situation, survivors with substance use issues need safety and support to recover. This session dispels myths about addiction and provides evidence-based information and trauma-informed recommendations for service providers that are applicable to children as well as adults. The presenter is a speaker, author, and survivor leader who holds five professional certifications in addiction treatment and is in long-term recovery from severe drug addiction. Her expertise is both clinical and experiential. Attendees will learn:

• How some traffickers target detoxes and SUD treatment facilities
• Tactics of coercion used by perpetrators of drug-facilitated human trafficking
• How the bi-directional relationship between substance use issues and trauma increases vulnerability to being trafficked
• How addiction affects the brain and increases vulnerability for being trafficked, how early substance use is a risk factor for addiction, and how recovery reverses the disease process
• Trauma-Informed best practice recommendations for engagement, prevention and protection

The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Addiction Webex Link

• Crystal Chen, ATR-BC, LCAT, LMHC-A, Board Certified Licensed Creative Art Therapist, Eating Recovery Center of Washington, and Garden of Hope and Center for all Abilities, New York (virtual)

Art therapy provides clients with an alternative method of communication and understanding of oneself. The art work that one creates is a reflection of the self, which can be more intimate in nature but also less intrusive. This makes it effective when working with clients who have experienced trauma. In this workshop you will learn about how art therapy can be utilized to explore the depths of trauma in children and adults, explore the benefits of art therapy, and get to do your own self-care art therapy exercise led by Art Therapist Crystal Chen, ATR-BC, LCAT, LMHC-A. No art skills or knowledge is necessary to participate in the art therapy exercise. This is a hands-on workshop, so the following art supplies will make it fun and productive:

• 4 sheets of paper
• Scissors
• Pens/pencils
• Coloring utensils

Trauma-Informed Art Therapy for Kids Webex Link

• Dr. Ann Marie Pendleton, Ph.D., Director of Mental Health, The Children's Village
• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy

Safety plans are integral to optimizing safety at every stage for survivors of trafficking and youth at-risk of sexual exploitation. Planning should occur regularly, relate to whether the survivor plans to leave or remain with the trafficker, and address multiple criteria. Since youth are the experts of their situations and experiences, they should always have an opportunity to be engaged directly in safety-planning. This workshop will discuss the importance of safety planning WITH youth and provide strategies to encourage them to take ownership of and participate in the development of their own personalized plans. The workshop will suggest dos and don'ts, discuss short-term versus long-term planning, and provide strategies to engage youth who may be reluctant to participate in planning. It will also provide an opportunity to practice individualized plan development through case scenarios and role play opportunities.

Safety Planning WITH Trafficked Youth Webex Link

• Princess Bey, Producer/Director
• Trafficked Youth Credible Messengers
• Selina Higgins, NYC Safe Harbour Coordinator
  NYC's Safe Harbour Program received NYS OCFS funding to sponsor a short film featuring (adult) former foster youth/trafficking survivors discussing child sex trafficking recruitment and disclosure. Topics include: (1) How no one ever expects to be recruiter by an exploiter and what it feels like when one realizes that what you experienced was recruitment and not what you thought was a relationship, and (2) how incredibly difficult (but important) to disclose to someone else that you have been trafficked. The film has been developed to let youth know that they are not alone, that others have had the same difficult realizations and choices, and to model that it is okay to reach out for help (and explain where to obtain help). Princess Bey, a noted actor, and producer and director of this project will present the film and lead the panel discussion.

ACS Trafficking Survivor Credible Messenger Program: An Original Film and Panel Webex Link

• Christie Morin, Program Manager, Children Missing From Care
• Meagan Clark, Case Manager 2, Missing Children Division
• Tiffany Henderson, Supervisor, Sex Trafficking Team
• Samantha Sahl, DSW, LCSW, Supervisor, Child Sex Trafficking Recovery Services Team
• Jewell J. Copeland, Resource Specialist I, Child Sex Trafficking Recovery Services

This presentation will provide information on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC) reporting guidelines and resources, with a focus on child sex trafficking (CST). Attendees will become familiar with the NCMEC Intake process, the importance of providing photos, and the information provided to NCMEC during the course of a case. CST program and resources will be highlight by NCMEC Case Management, Child Sex Trafficking Team of analysts, and the Recovery Services Team.

In 2020, 1 out of 6 missing children reported to NCMEC who had run away were likely victims of CST. Many of these cases involved children missing from the care of child welfare and it's clear that child welfare professionals are increasingly on the front lines of coordinating care, services and emergency response for survivors of CST. With the significant levels of trauma experienced by CST victims, advanced recovery planning and specialized response can mitigate challenges, streamline resources and allow for coordinated, trauma-informed interventions. This presentation will provide a deeper dive into the Recovery Services Team that launched in 2020 to support the development of proactive recovery and response plans focused on increasing rapport, youth engagement, and reducing running behavior for missing children who are being sex trafficked.

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Child Sex Trafficking Reporting & Resources Webex Link

• Nancy Chapman, CASAC, CRC
  • Mindful Breathing and Guided Meditation for Relaxation and Stress Reduction
• Cyllvia Springer, LCSW
  • Spiritual Development Through Chakra Cleansing and Balancing
• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R
  • Using Essential Oils From Plants as a Complementary Health Approach (Aroma Therapy)
  • Bonus! - In the Moment DBT Distress Tolerance Skills

Vicarious Trauma! Compassion Fatigue! What's the difference? What are the indicators? What techniques can you use to mitigate job resultant and other types of stress? Join our stress reduction experts as they discuss options to consider. Learn about the 7 Chakras in Yoga and how to unblock energy. Experience a guided meditation. Learn about Bach Flower Essences. Practice breathing techniques. This is a (virtual) hand-on participatory workshop, so expect to participate on how you reduce stress. The following supplies will make the workshop even more fun and productive:

• Any essential oil or other natural scent you enjoy
• Paper and colored pencils or crayons
• A comfortable chair
• Coloring utensils

Vicarious Trauma Identification and Stress Reduction Techniques for the Dedicated Service Provider Webex Link

• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy NYC Administration for Children's Services
• Melody Joanne Centeno, LMSW, Founder and CEO, Foster Care Unplugged, Inc. (FCUP)

Youth in foster care have a high proclivity for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking victimization. Many youth have been unknowingly trafficked as they do not recognize the red flag indicators for trafficking and believe they are in a "relationship" with their exploiter. It is a devastating recognition for which many defense mechanisms occur to avoid the trauma of emotional abuse/deceit added to the trauma of sex trafficking.

Two therapeutic group models were created to help mitigate trafficking involvement, reduce trauma, develop healthier thought patterns, regulate emotions, and self-empower vulnerable youth. Mitigating Trauma Through Drama uses psychodrama techniques to safely guide youth through traumatic memories and address concerns. Be Sea (Be Safe, Empowered, Aware) uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills to identify
emotions and develop coping strategies. Both models facilitate expression and disclosure through universally applicable skills integrated with trafficking awareness scenarios and discussion and have achieved success with trafficked and at-risk youth in the NYC foster care system. Workshop attendees will:

• Learn the basic concepts and indicators of juvenile sex trafficking versus adult sex trafficking
• Learn the heightened susceptibility to Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking for youth in the NYC foster care system.
• Learn the basic concepts of Psychodrama and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
• Receive an opportunity for hands-on experience through participation in actual exercises from the models.

Mitigating Trauma Through Drama and Dialectics: Two Unique Groupwork Models for Trafficked and Traumatized Youth Webex Link

• Selina Higgins, LCSW-R, Executive Director, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy
• Clifton Robertson, LMSW, Child Trafficking Specialist Residential Social Worker, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy

In September 2020, ACS released Policy and Procedure 2020/05: Identifying, Assessing, and Safety Planning with Child Sex and Labor Trafficking Victims, which articulates guidelines and procedures for ACS and provider agency staff in identifying children and youth for sex and/or labor trafficking, and for safety planning, coordinating with law enforcement, and making referrals for appropriate services. The Child Trafficking Database (CTDB) is the electronic mechanism that all ACS and provider agency staff must use to screen children for sex trafficking. This training will provide an overview of child trafficking, a description of the legislation that led to mandated sex trafficking screenings for children in the NYS and NYC child welfare systems, a detailed overview of the policy and a step by step walk through of CTDB screening procedures, including a hands-on demonstration of CTDB screenings. This training is a must for all NYC child welfare staff and any other professional who needs to understand ACS' trafficking policy and to perform the screenings correctly.

NYC's Child Welfare Trafficking Policy and Screening Children for Sex Trafficking in ACS' Child Trafficking Database (CTDB)

• Dr. Deborah Ottenheimer, MD, Director of Women's Health Services at the Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center, NYC Health + Hospitals
• R. Nancy Albilal, President and CEO, Arab-American Family Support Center
• Danny Salim, Senior Director of Solution Based Casework, Arab-American Family Support Center
  Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs for NON-MEDICAL REASONS. FGM is a violation of Human Rights and part of a continuum of gender-based violence. This training will discuss the types of FGM, tools used, false assumptions, highest risk cities, and physical and psychological consequences. It will also focus upon cultural awareness and effective strategies (Dos and Don'ts) to use in preventive engagement with families and in sensitive engagement with survivors. It will also highlight ACS' FGM@acs.nyc.gov e-mailbox where child welfare professions can obtain information, case guidance and resources from ACS' Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Awareness - What You Need to Know

Allison Markiewicz, LMSW is a Licensed Master of Social Work in New York state. She has worked at the New York Foundling since 2017, working in several programs including MST-CAN Therapy (Multi-Systemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect cases), an evidenced based prevention family therapy model. Currently, Allison is the Supervisor for the Phoenix Project, an intervention and prevention program for young people who have experienced sex trafficking and those at highest risk. Allison supervisors a team of mentors with who provide direct support to young people seeking support. Allison is dedicated to using a strengths-based approach to support individuals reach their full potential.

Angela Diaz MD, PhD, MPH is widely recognized as one of the world's most influential advocates for equity and for adolescent and young adult health, and as an expert on racial health inequities and race's role as a social determinant of health. She is Director of the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, a unique program that provides comprehensive, integrated health care to young people at no cost to them. The overwhelming majority of patients are youth of color from low-income families. With this in mind, the Center provides all services to promote equity within the frameworks of racial, social, economic, and sexual and reproductive justice. Dr. Diaz oversees the Center's robust research program, which is particularly groundbreaking as it focuses on racial and ethnic minority adolescents, who are frequently omitted or under-represented in research. In recognition of her commitment to equity and justice, she was recently appointed as the first Dean of Global Health, Social Justice, and Human Rights at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In this new role, she will form global partnerships to advance social justice and human rights through research, training, advocacy, and policy. In addition, she serves on the Mount Sinai Health System Task Force to Address Racism, which is charged with making specific recommendations to ensure a more just, anti-racist, and equitable community.

Anna Thomas, LMSW is the Program Coordinator for the Justice and Empowerment for Teens (JET) Initiative at Sanctuary for Families. The JET Initiative provides comprehensive trauma-informed clinical services to minor survivors of sex and labor trafficking. In addition to her role at Sanctuary for Families, Anna is a psychotherapist at Graymatters medical practice, providing individual therapy to a diverse range of clients. Anna has focused her career on serving survivors of gender-based violence and other systems of oppression, and has 7 years of experience working directly with survivors of trafficking. Prior to Sanctuary for Families, Anna was the Anti-Trafficking Program Specialist at Covenant House New York. Anna earned her Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University's School of Social Work.

Ann Marie Pendleton, Psy.D. is a New York State Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Mental Health Services for The Children's Village. She specializes in working with clients who have experienced stressors such as: being bullied, intense work pressures, major life changes, loss of a loved one, separation from family members, family conflict, sexual assault, relationship violence. Utilizing Client-centered and Cognitive-behavioral techniques and Structured Family Therapy, Dr. Pendleton meets each person where they are at and works with them to facilitate healing. She also provides advocacy around school support, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and the needs of gifted children.

In 2008, Dr. Pendleton obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. She obtained a B.A. in Music and Psychology from Gonzaga University in 2003.

Over the past 15 years, Dr. Pendleton has worked in and collaborated with multiple settings including residential centers, outpatient clinics, schools, law enforcement, hospitals, nanny agencies, and foster care. She has been a liaison with the New York State Office of Mental Health, and with the Administration for Children's Services' Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy and Mental Health Coordination Unit.

Aylese Kanze, JD (she/ her/ hers) joined the Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department in April 2019 as its first Director of Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Initiatives and Outcomes. At the Law Department, Aylese is responsible for overseeing the handling of matters involving youth known or suspected of having been commercially sexually exploited who are charged with offenses that would constitute crimes if they were adults. She collaborates with stakeholders across the city on initiatives to limit system exposure and improve outcomes for commercially sexually exploited youth, LGBTQIA+ young people, crossover youth, and other specialized populations. Since joining the Family Court Division, Aylese completed Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Supporting the Well-Being of System Involved LGBTQ Youth Certificate Program and presented at the 2020 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Conference and 2021 Coalition for Juvenile Justice Annual Conference. Aylese facilitates the Family Court Division's Pride Initiative and Healing-Centered Engagement Team.

Aylese served as a public defender for nearly a decade in The Legal Aid Society's Manhattan office, where she defended clients charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanors to homicides and focused on the holistic representation of adolescent and mentally ill clients. She is a graduate of New York University School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania. Aylese earned a master's degree in Youth Studies at the City University of New York in May of 2021.

Billye J. Jones, LCSW is an experienced clinician, supervisor, field instructor, administrator, program developer, and relationship builder. Billye is the director of programs at Day One. Her primary mission is to unite, align, and inspire the program teams to provide Day One's high quality, effective trauma-informed services to young people and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence, aged 24 and under.
Billye has a Master of Social Work degree from New York University (NYU). She attained a Post Master's Certificate in Clinical Practice from NYU, an Advanced Certificate Program in nonprofit management from New York Medical College/Fordham University. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and recently served as the Vice-President from 2018-2020 and has been a member of the National Ethics Committee for 12 years and chair of the committee for two years.

Christian Toala, Ed.D. is the Director of Educational Initiatives for ECPAT-USA. He has worked in public education for the past 14 years in different, almost the same amount of time that he has worked for non-profit organizations in youth services. He has worked as a teacher, school leader, professor in higher education, and director of the education department. He is a practitioner and a firm believer in progressive education and holds that we must always look to empower students to be best prepared for life. His work in the anti-human trafficking field formally began in November 2021 when he joined ECPAT-USA as the Director of Educational Initiatives.

He holds a bachelor's degree in History from the City College of New York, a master's degree from New York University in Secondary Social Studies education, a master's degree in public administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a doctoral degree from St. John's University in Educational Leadership. His research interests lie in educational equity, school choice, and alternative education.

Christie Morin is the Program Manager for Children Missing From Care, Missing Children's Division, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Christie has been with NCMEC for 18 years, holding various roles in the Missing Children's Division. In her current role, she is a liaison with states and counties with regards to reporting missing children. In addition, she has worked on NCMEC's Children Missing from Care Initiative and Child Sex Trafficking Initiative.

Clifton Robertson, LMSW is the Residential Child Trafficking Specialist with the ACS Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, and a Master of Social Work degree from Adelphi University. He is accredited as a Licensed Master Social Worker. As the Residential Child Trafficking Specialist, Clifton is the point person for the residential and group home staff that support and provide services to trafficked youth and youth at-risk for trafficking. He also works directly with vulnerable youth, providing psychoeducational awareness, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy groupwork sessions, and a variety of prevention strategies individualized as per each child's needs and strengths. In addition, he provides support, guidance and training to NYC child welfare stakeholders. Clifton has over a decade of cumulative experience in the fields of mental health, developmentally disabled and other vulnerable populations.

Cyllvia Springer, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who knew early on, that she wanted to be part of the helping professions that work with children and families. In pursuing that goal, she received an MSW from Fordham University. Ms. Springer has completed post graduate certificates in Clinical Trauma Studies and Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness from Adelphi University. She is also a Reiki Master; assisting individuals to manage health issues through energy work principles and mindfulness.

Ms. Springer has spent the last 30+ years of her professional life with the NYC child welfare system. During that time, she has developed curricula and trained staff to support the work in child protection, implemented and managed the Child Evaluation Program and the Central Sibling Unit. She developed and administrated ACS managed units at Covenant House, and developed and implemented the Family Assessment Program.

In partnership with Albert Einstein Early Childhood Center and the Highbridge Community Center, as an MSW field instructor, she co-developed and co-managed the Therapeutic Visiting for Families in Foster Care initiative, utilizing MSW interns. Currently, in the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships, her focus is on promoting wellness through presentations to be staff and community on managing stress and maintaining health and mental health, including implementing the ACS Weight Watchers Program. Ms. Springer is also a field instructor for MSW Interns.

Prior to ACS, she worked in foster care and adoption, hospital social work (OB-GYN), preventive services, mental health, and substance abuse (Detox and Methadone to Abstinence Program). Ms. Springer has worked with the adolescent population in sexuality and developed and implemented an after-care program for pregnant and parenting teens at Inwood House.

Dana Kaplan, MD is the Director of Child Abuse and Neglect for the Department of Pediatrics at
Staten Island University Hospital as well as the Associate Program Director for the Pediatrics
Residency Training Program. She is also the Medical Director for the Staten Island Child Advocacy Center. She is the director of the STAND clinic (Sex Trafficking, Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence) at Staten Island University Hospital. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell. Dr. Kaplan serves as the Site Director for Staten Island University Hospital, Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Training Program, Maimonides Medical Center/Infants and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn. She is also the Western Regional Director for the Northwell HEART Program.

Dr. Kaplan is board certified in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a Member of the Ray E. Helfer Society. Dr. Kaplan received her MD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed her residency in Pediatrics at New York University. Dr. Kaplan went on to complete her fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics at Hasbro Children's Hospital, The Warren Albert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Kaplan's specific area of interest is in commercially sexually exploited youth. Dr. Kaplan has lectured both regionally and nationally and has published multiple chapters and articles on the subject of child abuse and human trafficking. Dr. Kaplan works to provide education and outreach to medical professionals and the community on child abuse and human trafficking.

Danny Salim is the Senior Director of Solution Based Casework (Brooklyn) at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) where he has served New York City's diverse communities since 2013. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite University with a Master's in Conflict Transformation, Mr. Salim has vast experience in trauma healing and resilience, healing circle processes, women and youth empowerment, human rights, and culturally sensitive programming. Prior to joining AAFSC, Mr. Salim worked at several national and international organizations including Non-Violent Peace-Force and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

David Weiss, JD is the Deputy Chief of the Human Trafficking Unit at the Kings County District Attorney's Office and is also the law enforcement lead for the Department of Justice funded Enhanced Collaborative Model, Brooklyn Human Trafficking Task Force. He has been investigating and prosecuting Human Trafficking cases since 2014. After starting his career in 2006, he previously handled cases involving all types of violent crime. In 2015, David led a multi-agency investigation and prosecution which resulted in the takedown and closure of two hotels and the arrests of the owners of for promoting and permitting prostitution at the hotels in Brooklyn and Queens. In 2017, David was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York to bring federal sex trafficking charges in a case involving the trafficking of several underage girls. David regularly conducts trainings and outreach to the public, and presents on Human Trafficking investigations and prosecutions throughout NY State and around the United States, for Federal, State, Local and International law enforcement officials, focusing on evidence-based prosecutions, prosecuting without a victim, and prosecuting in a true victim-centered manner.

Deborah Ottenheimer, MD is currently the Director of Women's Health Services at the Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center, one of the largest of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham health centers. The Women's Health service provides obstetric and gynecologic care to at risk women in the South Bronx, including a large immigrant population composed primarily of women from the Caribbean, Central America, Bengal and West Africa. The focus of Dr. Ottenheimer's work is the development of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate women's health services with cross sectoral collaboration with other medical specialties and community organizations.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Ottenheimer spends a significant portion of her professional time assisting asylum-seeking women who have suffered sexual and gender-based violence and other human rights violations. She is an active member of Physicians for Human Rights, and serves as faculty at the Human Rights Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Weil Cornell Clinic for Human Rights, and the CUNY School of Medicine Human Rights Collaborative aiding survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking in their applications for asylum. To date she has performed 125 forensic medical evaluations. She has published and lectured extensively on human rights violations against women, with a focus on FGM/C. She has also worked in Haiti, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo, helping to improve the health and lives of women in low resource settings.

Eva Chávez is the Training and Outreach Manager for the Anti-Trafficking Program at Safe Horizon. Due to covid-19, she is currently working remotely, conducting outreach and Human Trafficking 101 presentations, virtually. Attending varying community meetings, workshops and webinars, Eva is able to engage and educate various community organizations about human trafficking. Topics Eva covers include the anti-trafficking legal framework, the prevalence of trafficking, red flags and indicators to identifying victims of trafficking and resources available to victims. Prior to accepting her role as Training and Outreach Manager with Safe Horizon, Eva worked as an Assistant Training Technician for the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, with over 21 years of state service.

Eva is a mental and spiritual wellness advocate and mentor. In 2018, she launched her organization, Tough ladies Conquer, supporting women overcoming adversities. Eva has completed multiple races including the NYC Marathon in 2018. Eva is "Mom" of two adult children, both college graduates.

Hannah Pennington, JD is the Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Training at the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence (ENDGBV), formerly known as the Office to Combat Domestic Violence. Previously, Hannah served as the ENDGBV's Director of Policy and before that Executive Director of the Manhattan Family Justice Center. Hannah came to the Mayor's Office from Sanctuary for Families where she was Director of the agency's Bronx Legal Project housed at the Bronx Family Justice Center. Hannah started her legal career in private practice as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she worked on various commercial litigations and government investigations for over seven years. She graduated from Rutgers Law School and the Cornell University School of Industrial Relations. While at Rutgers, Hannah co-founded the Domestic Violence Advocacy Project and secured a federal Violence Against Women Act grant to fund the program.

Jessica L. Melton, JD Assistant District Attorney graduated from St. John's University School of Law, cum laude, in 2000. She serves as the Chief of the Human Trafficking Bureau of the Queens County District Attorney's Office which was established in May of 2020 by District Attorney Melinda Katz. Jessica Melton has been a prosecutor with the District Attorney's Office for the past twenty-one years. Since 2007, when New York State's first Sex and Labor Trafficking laws took effect, she has focused her career solely on the prosecution Human Trafficking and related crimes and advocated for the creation of a specialized Human Trafficking Unit which she led. In 2013, she was awarded the prestigious Thomas E. Dewey medal by the New York City Bar Association for her work in combating Human Trafficking.

Jevet Johnson, JD Assistant District Attorney is the Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Bureau at the Richmond County District Attorney's Office (RCDA). SVB handles sexual assault, elder abuse, child physical abuse and human trafficking cases. Jevet started her career in 2001 at the Bronx District Attorney's Office. During her years at BXDA, Jevet handled serious violent felonies and special victims cases. Upon leaving the Bronx, Jevet continued to litigate serious offenses and press cases for the Department of Education and Department of Correction. Jevet is currently a co-chair of the SI Human Trafficking Task Force, a collaborative team of agencies who work together to fight human trafficking. Additionally, in her role at RCDA, Jevet lectures on trauma informed treatment of victims of sexual assault to medical providers.

Jewell Copeland is a Resource Specialist I on NCMEC's Child Sex Trafficking Recovery Services Team assigned to the Northeast. Jewell comes to NCMEC with several years of experience working directly with youth in care who have experienced child sex trafficking. She served as a specialized CSEC social worker in Los Angeles County's child welfare system, working closely with LA Sheriff's Human Trafficking Task Force and service providers in LA's First Responder Protocol during recoveries of children missing from care. Most recently, she provided intensive case management and advocacy services to survivors with MISSEY, an organization focused on empowering youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation.

Joseph Brodsky, LMSW is the Forensic Interview Specialist for Homeland Security Investigations in New York, NY (HSI NY). Joseph is assigned to the Child Exploitation and Investigations Team however he serves all teams and offices HSI NY offices and teams which are located in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, and Hudson Valley. Prior to his federal appointment, Joseph was a forensic interviewer with the Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center where he worked alongside the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Psychology from Brandeis University and a master's degree in Social Work from Yeshiva University.

Special Agent Josh Croft joined Homeland Security Investigations in 2016 and is assigned to the Child Exploitation Investigation Team. Prior to joining HSI, Josh was a Federal Air Marshal assigned to the New York Field Office. Josh served in the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Army Reserve, deploying to combat operations in Iraq with both services.

Justin McNabney, JD is the Deputy Chief of the Human Trafficking Response Unit at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. He supervises a team of approximately twenty Assistant District Attorneys from across the District Attorney's Office, along with five analysts, two investigators, and a social worker dedicated to working with survivors of sex and labor trafficking. Justin joined the District Attorney's Office in 2011, and has prosecuted a wide variety of cases including sex crimes and homicides. Before joining the District Attorney's Office, Justin worked at a law firm and clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Justin graduated from Stanford Law School.

Kamille Stine, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York state. She earned her master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from New York University. Kamille has been at the NY Foundling since 2013 and has been in several roles including therapist, lead therapist, program director and assistant vice president working with clients and families involved in the juvenile justice and behavioral health systems. Kamille is currently the Assistant Vice President of the following programs: PICHO (Partnership for Improving Community Health Outcomes) that serves families with persistent mental illness and with the goal of reducing risk for re-entry into the psychiatric emergency room and hospital; and Phoenix Project which is a holistic program that uses evidenced based models to support young people at highest risk for or those who have confirmed history of sex trafficking.

Katherine "Cait" Mullen, JD is an attorney with the Juvenile Rights Practice of The Legal Aid Society in New York City. She represents children and youth who appear before New York City Family and Supreme Courts in abuse, neglect, juvenile delinquency and youthful offender proceedings. Cait is also involved in legislative reform and advocacy for commercially sexually exploited youth. Cait was instrumental in the drafting and passage of the Safe Harbor Act, the first law in the United States to protect the domestic child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. In recognition of her work, Cait received the Outstanding Legal Advocate of 2007 award from the National Association of Counsel for Children. Cait has provided training on the representation of trafficked youth to The Legal Aid Society, New York City Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, and conducts numerous training sessions nationwide. Cait has frequently provided expert testimony to the New York State Assembly and Senate, and the New York City Council on the Safe Harbor Act, sexually exploited youth, and homeless youth in New York City. Cait has been a faculty presenter at several NACC National Child Welfare, Juvenile and Family Law Conferences; faculty presenter at National Juvenile Defender Summits; Yale Law School Rebellious Lawyering Conference (Reblaw) 2103; and the Freedom Network 11th Annual Conference. With Rachel Lloyd, she is co-author of a chapter in The Lawyer's Manual on Human Trafficking, published in 2011.

Laura Riso, MA began her career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1998 and has served as a Victim Specialist in the New York Field Office since 2006. Victim Specialist Riso coordinates and provides direct services to federal crime victims in cases of violent crime, crimes against children, civil rights, fraud, cyber crime, terrorism, and crimes aboard aircraft and cruise ship. On a regular basis, Victim Specialist Riso meets one-on-one with survivors from all over the world who are children, adults, citizens, and noncitizens. Each resource and referral she provides is tailored to each person, while ensuring their rights are preserved under 18 U.S.C. Section 3771. She works in close partnership with the FBI NY's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of a dedicated team of FBI agents, NYPD Detectives, and Intelligence Analysts. Victim Specialist Riso has been an embedded member of investigative teams in over 200 human trafficking and child sexual exploitation cases and has provided direct services to over 1,500 survivors of crime in the past 15 years.

Lori Legano, M.D. is the Director of Child Protection Services for the Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Associate Professor at New York University School of Medicine. She is a senior medical consultant for the Clinical Consultation Program of New York City's Administration for Children's Services. She is an Associate Fellowship Director of Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital of Brooklyn Child Abuse Fellowship. At Bellevue Hospital, she is Assistant Medical Director and Education Director of the Frances L. Loeb Child Protection and Development Center.

Mahsa Jafarian, MA is a program manager on Vera's Initiative to End Girls' Incarceration. The Initiative to End Girls' Incarceration is a national effort to zero out the number of young people on the girls' side of the juvenile legal system by moving systems away from carceral approaches and towards policies and practices that promote freedom for girls and gender expansive youth. Before focusing on this work, Mahsa provided technical assistance to jurisdictions seeking to reform their status offense systems. Mahsa joined Vera with a background in direct service with young people. She directed an after school program for middle and high school students in Brooklyn and worked in a juvenile detention and placement center in Vermont. She also worked for the New Orleans Mayor's Office on developing strategies for reducing the city's jail population. Mahsa has a bachelor's degree in teaching and psychology from Middlebury College and a master's in public policy from the University of Michigan's Ford School.

Maria L. Kearl, J.D. is Policy Counsel for Shared Hope International. Maria is a 2021 law graduate from Arizona State University with a background in state and federal legislative advocacy and policy initiatives.

Marie Leger, M.D., Ph.D. is a board certified dermatologist working in New York City and Reno, Nevada. She has worked with a variety of organizations providing pro bono tattoo removal.

Marti MacGibbon, CADC-II, ACRPS, CAPMS is an inspirational speaker, standup comic, certified addiction treatment professional, and author of two nationally award- winning and critically acclaimed memoirs, Never Give in to Fear: Laughing All the Way Up from Rock Bottom and, Fierce, Funny, and Female. Marti is President of Mentari Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program, Inc. She is a Human Trafficking Expert Consultant at the US Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and an Expert Consultant at the US Office for Victims of Crime. Marti is an internationally known author and an expert on trauma resolution and addiction. She holds five professional certifications in her specialized field, including the ACRPS, (Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist, and the CAPMS (Certified Addiction-Free Pain Management Specialist).

In addition to speaking to businesses, medical professionals and mental health professionals on overcoming adversity, empowerment, addiction recovery, and inspiration, Marti speaks on human trafficking, domestic violence, and other violence against women, and trains service providers. She has spoken at The 2021 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, The Museum of Tolerance, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, at colleges and universities, and even from the center of an MMA octagon at, "Fight Traffick," an anti-human trafficking cage-fighting event. She's been interviewed in Investor's Business Daily, Entrepreneur, and Glamour, on ABC-TV, CBS-TV, FOX-TV and numerous radio stations, and articles she wrote have appeared in over 150 corporate and trade magazines.

An advocate for victims and survivors, in 2015, Marti spoke at the White House, the State Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office for Victims of Crime, on mental health and policy advocacy. From 2012-2017, Ms. MacGibbon served on the Indiana Attorney General's state-wide anti-trafficking task force IPATH, Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans. From 2013-2017, she developed curriculum for and taught a life skills class for women with trauma history in Marion County Jail. In 2014, she spoke to California State Legislature in support of new and successful legislation aimed at eradicating child sex trafficking.

Ms. MacGibbon is an engaged leader who served for two years on the Board of Directors at HEAL Trafficking, Inc., and currently is a Board Secretary at MENTARI Human Trafficking Survivor Empowerment Program in NY, NY, and on the Advisory Board at Justice At Last in San Francisco. Marti is a Speaker Trainer Consultant at the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Center. She's been published in the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics on the topic of human trafficking, mental illness, and addiction, and is a contributing author of the Springer Nature 2020 textbook, Medical Perspectives on Human Trafficking in Adolescents: A Case-Based Guide.

Meagan Clark is a Child Sex Trafficking Case Manager 2, within the Missing Children Division of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Meagan joined NCMEC in 2012 as an Analyst on the Child Sex Trafficking Team, where she provided specialized technical assistance and analysis on child sex trafficking cases. Now, as a Case Manager, she continues to work closely with law enforcement, families, and social services on missing child cases, specifically those that involve child sex trafficking. Meagan has more than ten years of experience volunteering with organizations that work to educate the public and raise awareness about human trafficking.

Melody Joanne Centeno, LMSW. is a Licensed Master Social Worker, motivational speaker, public advocate, psychodrama practitioner and former foster youth who in 2016 founded Foster Care Unplugged, a 501 (c) (3) agency, to enrich the lives of children in care through development of positive resiliency skills. She has produced many youth focused projects, including "Foster Care Unplugged: The Stage Play" and annual events including a toy drive, the "Slay the Runway" fashion show, "Operation Foot Soldiers" (youth speaker drive), the Deus Beni Academy Short Films Project and a basketball game for youth with the NYC Police Dept. She has expanded her focus to assist trafficked foster youth through co-creation and facilitation of the grant funded Mitigating Trauma Through Drama group model which fuses psychodrama techniques with trafficking awareness. She is also an Applied Behavioral Analyst, working primarily with Autistic children.

Supervisory Special Agent Michele Senft, MA oversees the Homeland Security NY Child Exploitation and Investigations Team (HSI NY CEIT). Michele began her federal service in 2001 with the United States Customs Service (USCS) working part-time while completing college. In 2003, she received her appointment as a USCS Special Agent, which was realigned into Homeland Security Investigations after the Department of Homeland Security was formed. Michele holds a master's degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, both from St. John's University. She is also a certified NYS Emergency Medical Technician.

Nancy Chapman (she, her, hers) is a native New Yorker who has spent the past forty years, both professionally and personally, creating and holding spaces for individuals, families, and communities to process trauma, develop practices of care for self and others, and experience healing. She holds several degrees and earned a two-year post-grad certificate in Infant/Parent Mental Health and Trauma. She has worked as a special educator with abandoned, neglected, abused and traumatized children in psychiatric hospitals, detention centers and group homes, as a LGBTQAI+ Coordinator, Substance Use Disorder Policy Analyst, a Staff Crisis Debrief and Wellness Manager, and is currently serving as an Early Childhood/Adolescent Specialist within NYC Child Welfare. Nancy is a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and is Endorsed as a NYS Cat IV Infant Mental Health Mentor (Policy).

Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga are essential parts of her own journey in recovery and practice in healing and self-care, and she uses these to support other people in their journeys as well. She has been a regular Yoga Practitioner for over six years and participated in multiple beginner and intermediate classes and trainings. She has completed two 10-day silent retreats at Yogaville and is certified as a Kidding Around Yoga (KAY) Teacher.

Nina Agrawal, MD is a child abuse pediatrician in New York City and currently working with foster care health in Queens. She leads the Child Sex Trafficking Action Team of the New York City chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a member of the World Childhood Foundation Advisory Council on Child Sexual Abuse. She leads the gun violence prevention task force for the American Medical Women's Association. Her child advocacy writings have appeared in the New York Times, New York Daily News, and other publications.

Peter Sherman, MD, MPH has been providing care to children in NYC for over 30 years and is boarded both in general pediatrics and adolescent medicine. He also holds the title of Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine. He has served as Chair of Pediatrics at BronxCare Health System since 2013. Previously he was Program Director of the Social Pediatrics Residency Program and before that served as Medical Director of the New York Children's Health Project both at the Children's Hospital of Montefiore. He is dedicated to providing health care to underserved pediatric and adolescent populations with a particular emphasis on integrating care with community resources and addressing social disparities. He has served on several national boards, including Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians Network and Association of Clinicians for the Underserved and currently serves on the board of the Bronx Children's Museum. He also started the Bronx Human Trafficking Task Force and serves as its director. He has served as a member of the AAP District II, Chapter 3 Executive Council since 2017, is currently its treasurer and is also a member of its Underserved Committee. His writings and research has focused on issues facing underserved children and adolescents including HIV, STI's, and Domestic Violence. He received his MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and did his residency at Montefiore Medical Center. In addition he has an MPH from Lehman College.

Princess Bey is an award-winning screenwriter, director, producer and playwright. Her most recent short film Khadijah has screened at multiple festivals, including the Charlotte Black Film Festival, Newark International Film Festival, and Baltimore Black Film Festival, to name a few. Adopted by her grandfather at the age of 7, She grew up to be a "troubled" youth, as a response to the many tribulations she experienced. However, she credits the arts for saving her life and providing an outlet for her to explore and release her inner turmoil. Upon graduating from Stony Brook University in 2006, Princess began honing her craft and promised herself that she would always "pay it forward" and help other youth find their light via artistic expression.

Princess had the amazing opportunity of working with Foster Care Unplugged to write, direct and serve as the acting coach for Foster Care Unplugged: The Stage Play (Parts I and II),a series of productions sponsored by NYC foster care agencies and ACS, designed to help youth within the child welfare system share their stories with the world. Her most recent program, "Free is Me!", was sponsored by NeON Arts, a project by NYC Department of Probation (DOP) in partnership with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, which involved teaching young adults to write and perform from the heart. She is currently producing and directing the upcoming OCTPP/Safe Harbour sponsored Trafficking Credible Messenger film.

Rawaa Nancy Albilal is the President and CEO of the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC), a non-profit, non-sectarian organization providing culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed social services to immigrants and refugees across New York City. Ms. Albilal joined AAFSC in March 2017. Under her leadership, AAFSC has expanded to 12 different locations across the five boroughs and introduced several new initiatives including mental health counseling, a restorative justice unit, and an emergency fund. Over the past three years, AAFSC has enhanced its Anti-Violence Program, supporting over 1,800 survivors of domestic and gender-based violence annually in partnership with the NYC Family Justice Centers across the city. Ms. Albilal recently oversaw AAFSC's contract expansion with Administration for Children's Services, doubling the staff size and implementing two new evidence-based models for supporting families impacted by child abuse. AAFSC now serves 10,000 individuals from 148 different countries of origin in 32 different languages. Prior to joining AAFSC, Nancy served as the Vice President for Development at the Foundation Center, the Director of Social Services at the Department of Child and Family Well-Being for the City of Newark, and the Executive Vice President for Community Impact for the United Way in New Jersey. Ms. Albilal has been a guest lecturer for Rutgers University teaching cultural diversity and inclusion. She currently sits on the OVS Advisory Council and is the Co-Chair of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Advisory Council. Ms. Albilal is a graduate of Rutgers and Princeton University.

Samantha Sahl, DSW, LCSW is the Supervisor of the Child Sex Trafficking Recovery Services Team (RST) at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). RST is a team of regionally assigned Resource Specialists who provide case-based assistance and support to child welfare professionals and other multidisciplinary team members in the development of trauma-informed and victim-centered recovery plans for survivors of child sex trafficking who are reported missing to NCMEC. Prior to joining the team at NCMEC, Dr. Sahl coordinated the response to child sex trafficking in New Orleans, first through the New Orleans Children's Advocacy Center, and then with the Respect, Invest in, Support & Empower (RISE) Initiative at the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court. Dr. Sahl has provided training and technical assistance throughout Louisiana and nationally on child sex trafficking identification and response. She completed a Doctor of Social Work degree with the University of Southern California and focused her doctoral research on youth voice and choice through shared decision-making tools and practices.

Santhosh Paulus, MD is the Senior Program Director for the Human Trafficking HEART (HT Education, Advocacy, Response & Training) Program for Northwell Health, Site Director for Graduate Medical Education for the Family Medicine Residency Program and Hospitalist at Huntington Hospital, Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and is the Founder and President of Cycling For Change (c4c), a not-for-profit that raises funds and awareness to fight human trafficking.

Dr. Paulus received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida and medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in the Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies and completed his Family Medicine Residency Training at Glen Cove Hospital. During his nearly 20 years at Northwell Health, Dr. Paulus has held various leadership positions in the Department of Family Medicine at Glen Cove Hospital, at Huntington Hospital and for Northwell Health including serving as Chief Resident and Associate Program Director in the Glen Cove Family Medicine Residency Program, serving a term on the Glen Cove Hospital Medical Board, creating and leading the Human Trafficking Response Program Task Force which evolved into a System initiative as the Northwell Health Human Trafficking HEART Program.

During the 4 years in his current role, Dr. Paulus has partnered and collaborated with local, national and international leaders in the anti-trafficking community to help shape and position the Human Trafficking HEART Program as a resource and be in a position of influence to an interdisciplinary audience. Dr. Paulus is honored to work with the Family Medicine Residents and has seen over 100 residents graduate from the program since his own graduation in 2005.

He has been involved in anti-trafficking initiatives since 2014, when he founded Cycling For Change (c4c), a not-for-profit that raises funds and awareness to fight human trafficking. He is married, has four daughters and loves to cycle and play basketball.

Selina Higgins, MA, MSW, LCSW-R has been the inaugural Executive Director of ACS' Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy (OCTPP) since its creation in 2015 as the first office within a NYC public agency dedicated to trafficked and at-risk youth. OCTPP coordinates all aspects of policy and practice concerning children involved in human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, including identification, prevention, and service provision for the entire NYC child welfare system. OCTPP also consults with and supports other City and community-based agencies, provides training for professionals and communities, facilitates a variety of trafficking awareness and prevention groupwork models for youth and administrates the NYC Safe Harbour Program.

Selina has worked in the field of child welfare for 28 years in a variety of administrative and clinical roles. She is a licensed clinical social worker with a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology, a Master of Social Work, a two-year post-graduate certification in Infant-Parent Dyadic Therapy and Trauma Assessment and certification in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). In addition to policy and procedure development, Selina works directly with youth in providing therapeutic services through a variety of group work models (some self-designed). Selina has created many unique trafficking related trainings and developed the NYC Child Tattoo Eradication Project to provide free tattoo removal referrals to help exploited and gang involved youth heal emotionally. Publications include Child Trafficking and What YOU Can Do About It: Tools for NYC Child Welfare Professionals (now developed into a downloadable app) and a contributing co-author on Human Trafficking in the Foster Care System for the Springer Nature 2020 textbook, Medical Perspectives on Human Trafficking in Adolescents: A Case-Based Guide. In December 2020, the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence honored Selina as a 2020 Advocate of New York City. Selina is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, and has been an MSW Field Instructor for over 20 years.

Shelly Burke, LMHC. is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York who specializes in providing evidence-based therapy for children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Shelly is currently acting as the Program Director at the New York Foundling's Phoenix Project, a youth sex trafficking intervention and prevention program and as the Cognitive Processing Therapy supervisor. Shelly is nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is a nationally rostered Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) provider. Shelly is also a certified facilitator of HIP Teens, a group intervention specifically targeting building healthy relationships and improving the health and psychosocial potential of participants around their own sexual health and decision-making. Shelly is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in their recovery from traumatic experiences so that they may move forward in creating a life of healing, growth, and independence.

Sophia Yao, MHC-LP is a mental health counselor (MHC-LP) in the Human Trafficking Intervention Program at Garden of Hope (GOH) since 2020. She mainly serves adult and minor victims and survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. She provides a range of bilingual services (English and Mandarin) from counseling to support groups to case management. A recent graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University with a Master's in Mental Health Counseling, Sophia focuses on culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care in helping clients heal and thrive in their respective communities. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Japanese from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Prior to joining GOH, Sophia has worked with children on the spectrum providing ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy.

Suzanne Tomatore, JD has been Deputy Director of the City Bar Justice Center since July 2019. Ms. Tomatore has worked at the Justice Center for nearly two decades, including as Director of the Immigrant Women and Children Project and the Cancer Advocacy Project. She is the former Co-Director of the Immigrant Justice Project. Over the years, she has helped more than a thousand immigrant survivors of violence, and has been a critical voice in the larger local, national, and international conversation about human trafficking and violence. She has participated in delegations to Warsaw and Brussels, and lectured on the topic across the United States and abroad, including in Canada, Venezuela, Mongolia, Mexico and the Philippines. At the local level, she actively participates in multiple anti-trafficking task forces, including the Brooklyn DA's Human Trafficking Task Force. She has trained pro bono attorneys, judges, community-based organizations, health-care providers, law enforcement and government officials on human trafficking.

Ms. Tomatore received her J.D. from the CUNY Law School, and her Bachelors in Sociology and Women's Studies from CUNY as well.

Tiffany Henderson, Program Manager, Child Sex Trafficking Team, has been with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) since 2015 and is currently the Supervisor of the Child Sex Trafficking Team within the Analytical Services Division. She is responsible for the daily operational oversight and management of 13 analysts. This team of analysts is dedicated to supporting the FBI and other local/state law enforcement agencies who are working to identify and recover child victims of trafficking, as well as to identify and prosecute individuals involved in trafficking children. Ms. Henderson has previous law enforcement experience working five years in various positions at the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Portland, Oregon, as well as a Criminal Research Specialist for the Joint Tactical and Strategic Analytical Command Center for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC. She has provided extensive technical assistance to law enforcement across the United States and participated in various law enforcement special operations.

Tori Curbelo, MPH Director of Education, Training, and Advocacy at LifeWay Network
Tori Curbelo is responsible for advancing LifeWay Network's educational & advocacy initiatives. Drawn to LifeWay's commitment to servicing human trafficking survivors, Tori's career has focused on combating exploitation and similar human rights abuses. She carries experience from UNICEF USA, Fair Trade USA, the International Rescue Committee, and Win. Tori enjoys connecting with individuals around the urgency of human trafficking and has engaged audiences everywhere from the United Nations to Times Square. In 2015, she launched UNICEF USA's podcast, Ending Human Trafficking Locally and Globally. She holds a Master's in Public Health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Italian from the College of the Holy Cross, and is pursuing a second Master's in International Affairs at Columbia University.

Veronica Ades, MD, MPH is the Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jacobi Medical Center. She completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at the State University of New York at Downstate in Brooklyn, NY, and a Master's degree in Public Health with a concentration in Quantitative Methods at the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, and a fellowship in Reproductive Infectious Disease at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ades also completed a Certificate in Comparative Effectiveness at the NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Ades has worked with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders on assignments in Aweil, South Sudan in 2012 and 2016 and in Irbid, Jordan in 2013.

In addition to her role at Jacobi as Vice Chair, Dr. Ades is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is the Founder and Director of the EMPOWER Center at Gouverneur Health, which provides comprehensive trauma-informed medical and social services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Dr. Ades is the Principal Investigator of the Empower Lab, a public health lab that conducts research on the intersection of SGBV and health.