Be the One (BT1)

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA), in partnership with the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Steering Committee, is leading a county-wide awareness campaign focused on educating the community in order to eliminate child sex trafficking in Orange County. The Be the One (BT1) campaign and its 16,920,000 impressions are changing the way the community thinks about CSEC youth. Formerly considered “prostitutes,” CSEC youth had few to no options once they were influenced by their perpetrators. Now, SSA and community partners are working tirelessly to show community members, tourists, victims, and perpetrators that Orange County is a safe place for CSEC youth. In addition to campaign efforts, SSA and community partners are recruiting CSEC Resource Families to provide safe homes for CSEC youth, and SSA is currently establishing a Drop-In Center for victims to receive harm-reduction plans, referrals to essential services, and build relationships with trained staff.