Yakima County Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Task Force

Washington is one of the few states in the nation to conduct a state-wide data collection effort to better understand the number of youth who are exploited, how they are exploited, and the characteristics of exploited youth—such as their age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and living situation. A growing number of juvenile courts and social service agencies from the task force regions are participating in this effort. Yakima County is a participant in these statewide efforts, in partnership with the Center for Children and Youth Justice.

Mission Statement

We as a task force commit to improving cross-system collaboration, building a comprehensive community resource guide and county protocol for responding to young people.

What does CSEC/Y stand for?

CSEC stands for commercially sexually exploited children. Commercially sexually exploited children refers to anyone aged 17 and under who has taken part in a sexual act in exchange for a material item such as money or food, willingly or unwillingly. The acronym “CSEC/Y” is used to refer to commercially sexually exploited children and youth. Youth refers to those aged 24 and under.

What is a CSEC Taskforce?

A task force consists of individuals who respond to, serve, or have oversight for or impact on prostituted children. The primary responsibility of the Task Force is to foster a coordinated community response to CSEC.

What does a CSEC task force do?

  • A task force meets brings together individuals from all sectors that interface with CSEC/Y and provides the opportunity for networking between organizations.
  • Identify gaps in services for CSEC/Y and find ways to fill these gaps.
  • Coordinate or promote CSEC training in their community and ensure that their task force region has a trainer capable of running a CSEC training.
  • CSEC related tasks such as educating the community on CSEC/Y or work to reduce demand for sex from minors in their community.
  • Determine if current CSEC-related laws are being implemented and ensure that procedures are in place to meet the requirements of new policies and laws.

Yakima County CSEC Taskforce Members

Entities currently participating on the Yakima County CSEC Taskforce are:

  • Yakima County Children's Advocacy Center (CAC)
  • Yakima County Department of Human Services
  • Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
  • Yakima School District (YSD)
  • Casey Family Programs
  • A Guardian ad Litem

What kinds of agencies should join the CSEC Taskforce?

Prospective organizations should have the best interests of CSEC/Y in mind, which includes serving them through a victim-centered and trauma-informed lens. The member agencies of a task force can include, but are not limited to:

  • Local law enforcement
  • Community advocates
  • Child Protective Services (CPS)
  • Youth service providers (social services, housing, homeless youth case workers, etc.)
  • School personnel
  • Public health
  • Prosecutors
  • Defense attorneys
  • Healthcare providers (medical, community-based mental health)
  • Federal law enforcement
  • Human trafficking survivors
  • Tribal communities
  • LGBTQ+ representatives

If your agency is interested in participating in CSEC, please email CACYakima@co.yakima.wa.us.