Missing to Trafficked

May 25th commemorates National Missing Children's Day. On this day, the Department of Justice, public agencies, and private organizations gather in communities throughout the country to renew their commitment to find missing children, celebrate heartwarming stories of recovery, and honor those whose tragic loss remains in our hearts and memories. In recognition of Missing Children's Day and its associated activities, the Missing and Exploited Children's Program (MECP) has partnered with the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program to increase awareness for missing children and child trafficking victims. This webinar presentation will demonstrate the correlation and commonalities between the unknown missing child, chronic runaway, repeat victims of sexual abuse, abducted children, and the child victimized through sex trafficking. Participants will be provided with information regarding the dynamics of child sex trafficking, cumulative risk factors and how these affect the child. Panelists will provide participants information on developing community responses to effectively respond to and provide services for this vulnerable population. Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT Cost: Free Space is limited! Register Now!! Sergeant Byron Fassett has been with the Dallas Police Department for 29 years.The Child Exploitation Squad, which Sergeant Fassett is responsible for supervising, handles approximately 1,100 cases a year,consists of 15 detectives, and is divided into three teams; the Investigations Team, the High Risk Victims and Trafficking Team, (HRVT) and the Internet Crimes Against Children Team (ICAC). He has been designated as a Special Investigator for the Attorney General's Office of the State of Texas and a Special Deputy for United States Marshall's Service. Sergeant Fassett has presented both nationally and internationally on the issue of Domestic Trafficking of Children with regards to dynamics, investigative, and intervention techniques for law enforcement, prosecutors, and NGO's in the United States, Canada, Thailand, and numerous other countries in Southeast Asia. Detective Cathy De La Paz is a 27-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, assigned to the High Risk Victims and Trafficking Unit within the Child Exploitation Squad for the last ten years. Detective De La Paz specializes in conducting interviews of adolescent children and non-compliant victims who may be deceptive, avoidant and/or tentative in their disclosures. Detective De La Paz is often called upon to assist and consult on these interviews and cases, both locally and nationally. Additionally, Detective De La Paz instructs on the unique interview skills and investigative techniques needed on cases involving children who have been victimized through prostitution. Jim Walters is a retired Captain from the City of Placerville, California Police Department. He is currently the Deputy Chief of Police at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas where he conducts advanced law enforcement training and course development. He is also the AMBER Alert Liaison for Indian Country. Mr. Walters has over 20 years of law enforcement experience, serving as a crimes of violence investigator and investigations supervisor. Mr. Walters is a court-recognized expert in child maltreatment and sexual exploitation. Program Director, Phil Keith has more than 40 years of experience in the fields of criminal justice, public safety and business administration. From 1988 to 2004, Mr. Keith served as the Chief of Police for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee. His involvement with innovation initiatives lead to the development and establishment of the National Forensic Academy with the University of Tennessee. Throughout his career, Mr. Keith has received numerous commendations and awards. Since his retirement in 2004, Mr. Keith has served as the Program Director for Training and Technical Assistance for the Department of Justice AMBER Alert Initiative.