Panel Discussion on Trafficked Children in the U.S. 

CNA's Safety and Security division will sponsor a panel discussion on strategies used by local communities to address the problem of child trafficking.

In the 17 years since Congress enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, communities across the United States have made important progress in identifying and emancipating child victims and holding traffickers accountable. Join us to hear how communities leverage interdisciplinary partnerships to overcome challenges such as the increased role of technology in child trafficking, the complex emotional needs of child trafficking survivors, and access to appropriate housing and services.

Panelists from Virginia's Fairfax and Loudoun counties will include local law enforcement agencies and their FBI partners, school administrators who work to prevent children from becoming trafficking victims, and county and private sector service providers who support survivors. Valerie Schmitt will present CNA's research findings that highlight best practices and lessons learned from law enforcement agencies, victim service organizations, and survivor advocates. Ann Casey, also from CNA, will facilitate the session. Panelists include:

• Elizabeth Payne, K-12 Coordinator for Health, Family Life, and Physical Education, Fairfax County Public Schools
• Deepa Patel, Executive Director, Trauma and Hope, LLC
• Heather Peck Dziewulski, Child Services Administrator, Loudoun County Department of Family Services
• Lieutenant Jaime Sanford, Criminal Investigations Section, Leesburg Police Department
• Supervisory Special Agent Robert Bornstein, FBI Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force
• Caroline Diemar, Polaris National Hotlines Director

CNA is a nonprofit research and analysis organization located in Arlington, Virginia. We have a team of analysts with geographical, functional, and programmatic expertise in researching and analyzing communities in crisis - from experiences such as political instability, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and refugee migrations - and in assessing the factors that promote stability and safety.

The CNA human trafficking webpage with the video from last summer's session on international trafficking is available at www.cna.org/centers/ipr/safety-security/Human-Trafficking.