Escape

How Youth Trafficking Prevention Helps

No matter what you’re facing, you don’t have to go through it alone. The Youth Trafficking Prevention program helps young people feel safe, respected, and empowered — offering support at their pace and on their terms. Through education and guidance, youth learn to recognize red flags, build healthy relationships, strengthen self-esteem, and create safe spaces for healing both online and in person.

What services does C+FS offer?

Our services are available to youth located in Erie County up to the age of 21 who are at risk and/or survivors of trafficking.

  • One-on-one appointments with youth in agreed-upon, casual settings
  • Intensive case management
  • Safety planning focused on reducing potential harm
  • Connections and referrals to necessary services, including medical, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, education, employment, housing and legal
  • Court accompaniment
  • Language support
  • Clothing and basic need items
  • Transportation for program meetings and activities
  • Psychoeducation in online safety, healthy relationships and sexual health
Click here to go to the Youth Trafficking Prevention Referral Form.

Monthly Workshops

Each month, workshops are offered to the youth to explore prevention and healing-focused topics. Upcoming workshops:

Past workshop topics included:

Staying Safe Online

It’s important to recognize that online spaces can be risky and are often used by predators and traffickers to target vulnerable individuals.

  • Keep personal information private.
  • Only connect with people you know in real life.
  • Don’t accept friend requests from strangers.
  • If someone threatens you with a photo, tell a trusted adult.
  • Be careful with job offers that seem too good to be true.
  • Always meet online contacts in public, and tell someone where you’re going.
  • Trust your gut — if something feels off, report it and block the person.
Contact Us Today
(716) 355-7216
YTPreferrals@cfsbny.org

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, do not intervene. Call 911 or the National Human Trafficking 24/7, toll-free hotline: 1‑888‑373‑7888. You can also text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).