Citrus Helping Adolescents Negatively Impacted by Commercial Exploitation (CHANCE)

CHANCE consists of two tracts, including specialized therapeutic foster care and wraparound-level programming in the form of community response teams.

Therapeutic foster care provides a safe and stable home with parents who are specially trained in the unique behavioral, emotional, and social needs of survivors of human trafficking. Community response teams work with youth in the community to help them heal from their trauma and build resiliency to mitigate the risk of future human trafficking involvement. CHANCE programming is provided in the home, school, and community environments and addresses the safety, emotional, and behavioral needs of youth served.  

CHANCE Services

Youth are provided the following upon entering the program:

  • Individual therapy: 2-5 times per week based on identified need, on-call 24/7

  • Life coaching: 24-hour support, assistance, and advocacy from another human trafficking survivor

  • Group therapy: Psycho-educational groups

  • Targeted case management

  • Family therapy: as needed

Additionally, youth will receive the following wraparound services:

  • Assessment and evaluation

  • Individualized treatment and service plan development

  • Psychiatric services

  • Primary care health services

  • Regular monitoring to ensure that the service and treatment plan goals are consistently pursued

  • 24/7 on-call support and intervention

Learn more about becoming a Therapeutic Foster Parent:

Two people sitting on a bench in a park, engaged in conversation, surrounded by trees and a sunny sky.

Youth can be targeted for human trafficking in any setting, including:

  • Hotels

  • Schools

  • Social media sites

  • Bus stops

  • Community parks

  • Restaurants

  • Shopping malls

Potential indicators of trafficking and exploitation:

  • History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse, or domestic violence

  • Signs of current physical abuse or sexually transmitted diseases

  • Running away from home or being otherwise unhoused

  • Inexplicable appearance of expensive gifts or other costly items

  • Presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend

  • Substance use and drug addiction

  • Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities

  • Gang involvement

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking, also sometimes referred to as commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), is a form of child abuse. It happens when individuals buy, trade, or sell sexual acts with children and youth under the age of 18. 

Who is vulnerable to human trafficking?

Many are refugees or immigrants who have been separated from their parents or guardians. Additionally, approximately 80% of youth trafficked are female. Traffickers tend to look for youth who:

  • Are between the ages of 12 and 15

  • Have run away from home or are otherwise unhoused

  • Have a history of experiencing abuse, neglect, or domestic violence 

  • Are living in poverty or those with limited access to basic resources

Who exploits children and youth?

Predators who seek out vulnerable youth; they make youth feel trapped and powerless by using:

  • Psychological manipulation

  • Threats

  • Violence

  • Drug addiction

  • Those who solicit and purchase sexual acts or labor performed by trafficked youth