Los Angeles County is a major hub and transit route for sex-trafficked youth. 70% of these youth come from foster care. In 2015, they launched new strategies to address their serious problem of sex-trafficked children with the help of advocates, like former FosterClub leader and National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council member, Withelma “T” Ortiz Walker Pettigrew.

The first step, "stop labeling the victims of child sex trafficking as prostitutes; they are survivors of child rape."

They put in place three prong approach:

1. Going after pimps and traffickers
2. Go after the demand side, "the johns" (aka, the buyers)
3. Identify the victims as kids in need of rescue and not suspects

How did it work? Read the full article to get the details.