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

JJF’s focus on CSEC was a direct result of a need perceived by the Fulton County Juvenile Court, whereby sexually exploited girls were being re-victimized through incarceration and detention because of the lack of appropriate placement options. Exploited youth are victims of terrible crimes, but they often find themselves in delinquency court hearings for status offenses and unruly behavior--all symptomatic of exploitation. Many exploited youth are homeless, estranged from family, not enrolled in school, low functioning, and/or have intensive mental health treatment needs.

CEASE was created to raise community awareness and offer advocacy, case management, crisis counseling, victim support, placement assistance and treatment and prevention services to meet the physical, emotional, and educational needs CSEC survivors and youth at risk of exploitation.

CEASE Projects include:

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

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Placement/Resources for CSEC Victims
Recognizing commercial sexual exploitation is a serious problem in Georgia, the Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) created the nation's first statewide response to help identify a great number of child sex trafficking victims and address their needs. To seek resources or placement for a child that may be a victim of commercial sexual exploitation, call the Georgia Care Connection at 404.602.0068

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

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

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

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

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