LCYTC logo

The Collaborative improves outcomes for child and youth victims of sex and labor trafficking using the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) model. The Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative (LCYTC) - “The Collaborative'' is a multi-year project administered by the Governor's Office & the Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers, funded by the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.

The Collaborative’s goal is to strengthen Louisiana’s human trafficking response in four core areas:

Collaboration:

Utilize the MDT model and case coordination to improve communication across agencies.

A Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) is a group of professionals from specific, distinct disciplines that collaborates from the point of report and throughout a child and family’s involvement with the CAC.* MDTs coordinate intervention to reduce potential trauma to children and families and improve services overall, while preserving and respecting the rights, mandates and obligations of each agency. The LCYTC builds upon the MDT model to more effectively meet the emergent and long-term needs of exploited children and youth.

*This definition is based on the 2017 NCA Accreditation Standards for Members.

THE ROLE OF THE COORDINATOR

Each Regional Child and Youth Trafficking Coordinator serves as one of 10-key positions established to execute The Collaborative. These positions are housed in Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the state and are liaisons with law enforcement partners, judicial partners, and victim service partners in the regional area, as well as support and improve the multi-disciplinary response to child and youth trafficking. The LCYTC Coordinators serve as central points of contact for agencies and victims for a more coordinated and effective system response; provide direct service for victims in the form of screening, case management, and advocacy; and facilitate training and outreach to build infrastructure and community capacity.

Advocacy:

Ensure access to high-quality care centered on victim healing.

The LCYTC uses Case Coordination to address the direct needs of victims and survivors of trafficking. The LCYTC’s MDTs can take referrals for trafficking victims who need case coordination, investigative support, or direct services. These MDTs utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to improve service coordination for clients in their communities. LCYTC Coordinators may also provide direct service for victims in the form of assessment, case management, and family advocacy.

Screening:

Utilize a validated screening tool to identify child and youth trafficking victims.

The LCYTC utilizes the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT tool) created by Westcoast Children’s Clinic to screen to improve early identification of sex trafficking of youth. This tool is narrative-based, meaning that it does not require interviews or direct questions asked to the youth. This minimizes the trauma of retelling their story. This tool is designed to be cross-sector, and is used by CACs, service providers, juvenile services and other partner agencies across Louisiana to improve community screening and identification of potential victims.

Outreach:

Provide trauma-informed, victim-centered training to improve identification and response to human trafficking.

The LCYTC Coordinators offer human trafficking training to community partners within their service region. The LCYTC offers free training and outreach to communities throughout Louisiana. This includes community events, vulnerable communities, and professionals who work with vulnerable communities. These trainings have been developed, screened, and approved by local, state, and national experts including survivors to ensure high-quality content.

LCYTC regional coordinators are housed in Children’s Advocacy Centers in the following locations: Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Covington, Orleans, Thibodaux, Lafayette, Monroe, and Shreveport. Coordination for trafficking victims in the Lake Charles region is provided by a partner agency, the Office of Juvenile Justice Services. Every parish in Louisiana has access to services through the Collaborative.

Contact your local regional coordinator to learn more about resources in your community.

LCYTC Regional Contacts

ORLEANS

Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines


New Orleans Children’s Advocacy Centers

Coordinators: Asja Coffil and Bailey Nussbaum

COVINGTON - DISTRICT 21

Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Ascension, East Feliciana, West Feliciana


Child Advocacy Services

Coordinators: Mary Kennedy
mkennedy@childadv.net and
Christine Roy
croy@childadv.net
(800) 798-1575

COVINGTON - DISTRICT 22

St. Tammany, Washington


Hope House CAC

Coordinators: Heather Denenea
heather@cachopehouse.org and
Lane Solow
lsolow@cachopehouse.org

THIBODAUX

Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. James, Ascension, Assumption


Terrebonne Children’s Advocacy Center

Coordinators: Maci Hidalgo
macihildalgo@tpda.org
(985) 872-5437

LAFAYETTE REGION

Lafayette, St. Landry, Evangeline, Acadia, St. Martin, St. Mary, Iberia, and Vermillion


Hearts of Hope

Coordinator: Kourtneii Henderson
kourtneii.henderson@theheartsofhope.org
Send referrals to cct@theheartsofhope.org
(337) 269-1557

BATON ROUGE REGION

West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee


Baton Rouge Children’s Advocacy Center

Coordinators: Jenna LaFont
jenna@batonrougecac.org and
Eugere Robinson
eugere@batonrougecac.org
Send referrals to rcc@batonrougecac.org
(225) 343-1984

SHREVEPORT REGION

Natchitoches, Sabine, Caddo, Red River, De Soto, Bossier, Webster, Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson


Gingerbread House

Coordinator: TBA
(318) 674-2900

ALEXANDRIA REGION

Vernon, Rapides, Grant, Winn, La Salle, Catahoula, Concordia, Avoyelles


Children’s Advocacy Network

Coordinators: Rachel Austin
raustin@childrensadvocacy.net
and
Logan Duff
lduff@childrensadvocacy.net
Send referrals to: carecoordinator@childrensadvocacy.net
(318) 448- 4406

LAKE CHARLES REGION

Beauregard, Allen, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Cameron


Family and Youth Counseling Agency

Coordinator: David Duplechian
david@fyca.org

MONROE REGION

Lincoln, Union, Morehouse, West Carroll, East Carroll, Ouachita, Richland, Madison, Caldwell, Franklin, Tensas


Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana

Coordinators: Peyton Alderman
palderman@standforhope.org and
Lauren Laughlin
llaughlin@standforhope.org
(318) 398-0945

This content was produced by the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative under 2018-NZ-NX-K001, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this guide are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.