DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Children’s Services Division

SPECIAL SECTION: Integrated Services Delivery

On any given day in Riverside Coun ty, an estimated 145 youth in foster care are victims or at risk for sexual exploitation. Child welfare experts say the true number is probably higher, because many young peo ple hide their experiences or are never identified. Administrative Services Manager Nicole Ford with Children’s Ser vices said each number whether it’s known or not represents a vulnera ble young person navigating trauma on top of complex challenges that often include severe substance use and mental health disorders. In Fiscal Year 2024/25, Riverside County expanded its interventions and support for sexually exploited youth, an effort Ford describes as urgent, complex and deeply human.

By expanding support, outreach, early intervention, transitional housing, life skills development and dedicated court advocacy, Ford said resources can be tailored to the needs of each youth. Key partners such as Children’s Services, the Riverside County Office of Educa tion, Behavioral Health, Probation, Coalition to End Human Trafficking, faith-based partners and commu nity organizations are building the cross-agency framework to meet those needs and strengthen the safety net for youth. Under the Collaborative System of Care umbrella, a CSEC Subcommit tee launched in May 2025 with par ticipation from Probation, RCOE, Children’s Services and Inland Re gional Center. CSEC representation was secured on the Collaborate System of Care team, ensuring visibility and shared accountability across systems. Ford said the expansion of CSEC education and intervention is also vital to foster youth at Harmony Ha ven Children and Youth Center, the county’s transitional shelter care facility that houses youth experi encing disruptions in their foster placements, often when caregivers are unsure they can safely support a youth’s needs alongside their own children. The high-risk behaviors of some youth, make them more vul nerable to predators who would ex ploit them, Ford said. Riverside County’s expanded re sponse to human trafficking re flects a long-term commitment to prevention, survivor-centered care and cross system partnership. With enhanced training, new hous ing models and deeper alignment across agencies, the county is forg ing a future where exploited youth have real pathways to safety, heal ing and independence.

• Training more than 85 cross agency staff through the Becoming Me curriculum, now in session at HHCYC and with Olive Crest through the Promise Program. • Developing new school-based prevention and early identification supports through the Riverside County Office of Education, which launched the Foster Youth Success Initia tive in October 2024 to help foster students ‘move from striving to thriving.’ • Launching a countywide SharePoint hub to centralize resources and training for staff. • Deploying visual campaigns to ensure workers know where to turn for CSEC sup port. • Expanding use of the Cool Aunt Series, a survivor developed, state funded prevention tool offering age-appropriate storytelling, lectures and interactive content accessible from any smart device. • Working to extend the Promise Program beyond its 2026 sunset to ensure youth have access to support the moment they are ready to reach out. • Through collaborative efforts with Olive Crest, the Coordinated Response Team is providing intensive, trauma-informed case management for youth who do not qualify for specialized housing. • Offering safe, judgment-free connection at RUHS Behavioral Health Transitional Age Youth Drop-In Centers, which provide food, rest and trusted adult relationships. • Partnering with DPSS Staff Development to expand training on the Commercial Exploita tion–Identification Tool (CSE‑IT), strengthen worker assessment of CSEC indicators, tran sition to the electronic tool, and update the West Coast Children’s Clinic contract to sup port enhanced CSEC education. Riverside County’s expanded CSEC resources and interventions in 2024/25 also include:

On any given day in Riverside County, an estimated 145 youth in foster care are victims or at risk for sexual exploitation.

“Our goal is prevention; to keep youth from ever being victimized through effective education and targeted interventions, while en suring a full array of services and resources are available to help vic tims find a new path forward,” Ford said. This fiscal year, CSEC champi ons were trained and identified for each region in Children’s Services to build a more consistent culture of readiness and bring resources to frontline workers who identify youth being impacted by commercial sex ual exploitation.

Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025

39