Crittenton’s Vice President of Community Services Publised in Silhouettes EJournal

Crittenton’s Vice President of Community Services Publised in Silhouettes EJournal

June 24, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Crittenton Services for Children and Families

Martha Jasso, Director of Communications

(714) 680-6008

mjasso@crittentonsocal.org

 

LONG BEACH, Calif. –  Dr. Barbara Hernandez, Vice President of Community Services, for Crittenton Services for Children and Families (CSCF) has recently been published in the Q2 2013 edition of Silhouettes EJournal.

Dr. Barbara Hernandez, Vice President of Community Services, CSCF

Dr. Barbara Hernandez, Vice President of Community Services, CSCF

Dr. Hernandez’s article entitled, “Identification and Treatment of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking”, has been distributed electronically as of June 2013 via the National At-Risk Education Network (NAREN) based out of Baltimore, MD. NAREN is a private, non-sectarian, non-profit educational agency dedicated to both promoting the success of at-risk youth in the nation’s schools, and supporting the professionals who work on their behalf.

“Barbara’s knowledge and vast experience in the delivery of treatment options for children that have been subjected to complex traumas, including commercial sexual exploitation or human trafficking, is well respected among her peers and in the community,” said Martha Jasso, Director of Communications, CSCF, “Her commitment to helping survivors build resiliency and to assist them regain their self worth has been a great asset to the families and children CSCF serves, and she has become a valuable resource to all community partners that are in the same fight to end modern-day slavery.”

Her article discusses the realities in the rise of the number of children (specifically girls) that social services agencies are seeing being lured into Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST). It is reported by various authorities on this topic, including Polaris Project, that girls as young as 12 are being recruited by pimps in local neighborhoods and communities throughout the United States. As such, Dr. Hernandez states that it is important that mental health professionals, law enforcement and social services agencies increase their competency in regards to the identification and assessment of these at risk youth.

In addition to her current role, Dr. Hernandez also serves as the subject matter expert and lead speaker for the CSCF Speaker’s Bureau Program on the topic of DMST, has trained community partners on human trafficking and assessing and identifying children with human trafficking experiences, and continues to present on treatment options for Commercial Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) as well as on the importance of the collaboration of care for CSEC survivors.

She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Mount St. Mary’s College, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and her Doctorate of Psychology from Ryokan College.  She has been working with minors in the child welfare system for more than 15 years, ten of which are in administration. Dr. Hernandez and her team provide a variety of intensive therapeutic services to children in residential and group home aftercare programming. One of the most recognized programs that Dr. Hernandez is currently leading is that of Commercial Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) at CSCF. Her knowledge of attachment disorders, trauma and the CSEC population has led her team to provide the most comprehensive services available in Southern California to minor victims of human trafficking.

Crittenton Services for Children and Families of Southern California (CSCF) is a non-profit social services agency whose mission is to heal the wounds of abuse and neglect; strengthen families; and help troubled adolescents reach their full potential. Established and incorporated in 1966 Crittenton has a highly trained workforce operating 24 hours a day / 7 days a week providing comprehensive counseling, medical, and other support services to the clients in our care. We provide a full array of residential, in-home, community based, wraparound, mental health, foster care, and adoption services with a service planning area throughout Southern California that covers Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties. Visit www.crittentonsocal.org to learn more about our programs and connect with us on FacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInGoogle+, and Flickr.

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Topics: Non-Profit, Social Services, Human Trafficking, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victim Services, Commercial Sexually Exploited Children, Commercial Sexually Exploited Children Program, Modern Day Slavery

Geography: Orange County, Calif., Los Angeles County, Calif., Fullerton, Calif.