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BCFS urges East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to sign MOU to reach trafficked youth in schools
Summary
Debbie Solcher, a representative of BCFS/Common Thread, told the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board that BCFS seeks a memorandum of understanding with the district to provide relational advocacy and care coordination to youth identified as trafficking victims under state law.
Debbie Solcher, a representative of BCFS/Common Thread, told the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board that BCFS seeks a memorandum of understanding with the district to provide relational advocacy and care coordination to youth identified as trafficking victims under state law.
Solcher said the work is part of the Louisiana Human Trafficking Collaborative, which includes the governor’s office, Louisiana State Police, Department of Children and Family Services and several advocacy organizations. She said BCFS and a sister organization, Unbound Now, are already operating in the state and hope to partner with East Baton Rouge Parish schools to reach students during noninstructional time.
“ We are a 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis program,” Solcher said, describing BCFS as a mobile advocacy team that connects youth to services rather than providing clinical therapy. She told board members the organization is funded by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and works alongside law enforcement and mandated reporters when abuse is suspected.
Solcher presented state-level data and said more than 1,700 youth were served last year and that 60 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes have reported trafficking cases. She said New Orleans and Baton Rouge lead the state in reported cases and that most cases seen by BCFS are familial trafficking — instances where a family member or caregiver is the trafficker — which she described as especially difficult to identify and treat.
She told the board BCFS hopes to enter an agreement allowing staff to meet with identified students at school during noninstructional time, and to provide training for district staff, parents and students. Solcher also said the state is validating a screening tool for sex trafficking in the coming weeks; BCFS already uses a tool for labor-trafficking screening.
The board thanked Solcher for the information. Solcher said she looks forward to further conversations about an MOU and operational details.
Ending: The presentation did not include a formal vote or motion. Solcher said she would await follow-up from the district and that BCFS hopes to work with East Baton Rouge Parish School System on training, screening and response strategies.
