Mission of Catholic Charities

"The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and a people of good will to do the same."

Addressing the issue of trafficking of U.S. children touches each of the three foci of the mission. The victims of this type of trafficking are perhaps the most vulnerable for whom Catholic Charities has a preference. Children from all economic levels, lured, abducted and brutalized, when discovered, require a variety of services, some of which are very specialized because of the trauma of their experiences.

Assisting agencies to mobilize their community to identify and to serve American children who are trafficked not only enhances their services but prepares them for advocacy on behalf of exploited children who are hidden from public view.

• Local agency/community understanding
• Residential and mental health treatment skills
• Experience in working with this population of victims
• Juvenile court system practice
• Health care knowledge
• Coalition and program development
• Law enforcement experience
• Parish and/or church involvement.

• Be holistic, embracing all children that are commercially sexually exploited because the family situations which lead to the exploitation is basically the same
• Start locally and build to national awareness, advocacy, and treatment
• Each community should assess their situation and decide on the focus of their approach
• Public awareness should be raised that the problem is well hidden but exists in our society
• Raise awareness of law enforcement, health care providers, social service agencies, child welfare agencies, and the juvenile court system that child prostitutes are not bad children and are unable to make adult decisions
• From the values of justice and human dignity, the mission of Catholic Charities is to provide services to the poor and most vulnerable.

Full day session on domestic child trafficking was held at he Catholic Charities USA Annual Meeting held in Phoenix, AZ in September, 2005.

Role of Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Charities USA will provide technical assistance to local Catholic Charities agencies, parishes and community groups in cities where domestic child trafficking is found or suspected.

• where the children are to be found;
• what happens in the Juvenile Justice system possible advocacy with their local Juvenile Justice system;
• building relationships between Catholic Charities and the parishes and involving the parishes in advocacy;
• engaging various Catholic groups: i.e. Diocesan Councils of Catholic Women,, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, women religious;
• including in the planning the local the police, the schools, community churches and the medical community.

What Catholic Charities Agencies can do

This problem calls for a community response. Catholic Charities agencies might call to the table community organizations, parishes, hospitals, juvenile justice, child welfare and law enforcement, schools and family court systems.

• inform law enforcement and court personnel about the scope of the issue;
• inform the public about prevention and response;
• recover and assist victims;
• raise funds for shelter and treatment;
• advocate on all levels of government.