CSTT Archived Webinars
Human Trafficking Institute Texas Program Updates & Initial Enforcement Observations
Presented on July 14, 2026
This webinar provides an update on the launch of Human Trafficking Institute’s (HTI) enforcement focused program in Texas including a review of 2025 accomplishments and ongoing 2026 activities. The session also outlines early enforcement observations and initial lessons learned following year one partnerships with HTI's first five pilot counties.
Centering Lived Experience: Findings from Familial Trafficking Interviews
Presented on May 14, 2026
This presentation shares key qualitative findings from RTI International’s research on familial trafficking, centering survivor experiences and responder perspectives. Participants learn about the study’s purpose and major themes, including common barriers faced by survivors and challenges encountered by anti-human trafficking professionals. The session also highlights research-informed strategies to strengthen service provision and promote trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices.
Screening Vulnerable Children for Risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Texas: A Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool Community of Practice Study
Presented on April 21, 2026
In collaboration with Allies Against Slavery, the Office of the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team conducted a Community of Practice Study for agencies and individual practitioners using the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool (CSE-IT). The goal of the study was to advance Texas’ efforts to identify and support youth who are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation by better understanding barriers and challenges to screening, and discovering best practices for implementation of screening protocols across the state. Participants will gain knowledge of the study outcomes, insights and practical tools for implementing the CSE-IT in youth-serving organizations.
Building Alliances with Youth to Reduce and Prevent "Challenging Behaviors"
Presented on March 25, 2026
Sedoo Ijir, Director of Practice, and Kirsten Comparetto, Training Specialist Intern, with the Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) discuss and explore the basis for the display of "challenging" behaviors in youth, such as refusing services, running away, disconnection, disengagement, and conflict. Participants will learn best practices that promote youth-centered approaches, positive youth engagement, authentic relationship-building, and resilience. Through firsthand reflections from youth with lived expertise, participants will strengthen their framework for addressing and mitigating challenges and gain tools to add to their strategic repertoire.
Mind the Gap: Using Civil Remedies as a Creative Approach to Combatting Crime
Presented on January 21, 2026
Shantal Ortega, Assistant County Attorney with the El Paso County Attorney’s Office discusses using the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies code to address common nuisance properties in El Paso communities including those where suspected human trafficking is occurring. This webinar addresses how this tool can aid in bridging the gap between criminal prosecution and addressing the crimes occurring on a particular property. This webinar also includes a discussion on working with different law enforcement and regulatory agencies in Texas to build a case and how prosecutors can bring different agencies to the table who share in the same goal of addressing criminal activity.
Advancing Anti-Trafficking Efforts in Child Protection
Presented on October 22, 2025
Advancing Anti-Trafficking Efforts in Child Protection dives into anti-trafficking efforts in child welfare and progress made since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Service’s Human Trafficking (HT) Division highlights their journey in building a comprehensive child welfare response to human trafficking. Learn how the HT Division upholds the DFPS mission to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive.
Human Trafficking Updates from the 89th Legislative Session
Presented on August 28, 2025
Brody Burks, Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General takes a deep dive into important human trafficking updates from the 89th Legislative Session.
Ellis County's Journey and Innovation in Care Coordination
Presented on May 29, 2025
Leslie Deen, Executive Director of Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center, leads the Care Coordination Team and Care Coordination Advisory Council to ensure supportive services are well-coordinated and accessible for every child impacted by sexual exploitation - from early intervention (emerging and identified risk) to active investigation and on-going follow-up care. Join Leslie and team as they share the story of how Care Coordination was established in Ellis County and its growth into a best practice model for supporting children and youth at risk of and experiencing commercial sexual exploitation. This webinar is a conversation with members of the Care Coordination Advisory Council and will highlight Ellis County's commitment to delivering coordinated and survivor-centered care for child sex trafficking victims.
Hiring and Supporting Staff with Lived Experience in Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Presented on April 30, 2025
Sarah Hall and Tiffany Greco with the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services discuss how to effectively hire and support individuals with lived experience in commercial sexual exploitation. Topics include how to find individuals with lived experience who are seeking employment, organizational qualities that can prompt survivors to want to work for your team, essential competencies for interviewing and onboarding, how to support survivors through effective management techniques, survivor-specific challenges and corresponding supportive practices, and tackling issues with other workplace-specific dynamics. Sarah, a survivor-leader in the anti-trafficking field, and Tiffany, a noted ally and Sarah’s supervisor of four years, will discuss lessons learned, best practices, and practical insights from their unique perspectives.
Preventing Trafficking Among Vulnerable Youth
Presented on March 19, 2025
Sara Nellis and Chloe Gallagher with Unbound Now's Early Intervention Program discuss strategic approaches to address the issue of human trafficking among at-risk youth. Key topics include reaching vulnerable youth, engaging youth, early identification, building prevention education curriculum, direct services, case management, bridging gaps, engaging families, and collaboration. This webinar aims to equip listeners with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a positive impact in their communities regarding the prevention of trafficking.
Strengthening Human Trafficking Investigations and Prosecutions: HTI's Approach in Texas
Presented on February 18, 2025
How can Texas law enforcement and prosecutors build stronger human trafficking cases while prioritizing survivor well-being? Tyler Dunman and Kim Duchamp introduce HTI's mission and discuss a new pilot project in Texas to enhance human trafficking investigations and prosecutions. The discussion highlights the value of trauma-informed investigations, the role of care coordination, and the importance of CSEY advocacy in building stronger cases and achieving justice for survivors.
An Empowering Solution to Human Trafficking Utilizing the Power of Youth Voice
Presented on January 28, 2025
During this webinar, Project Protect Our Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child sex trafficking, exploitation, and abuse through proactive community engagement, preventative educational programming, awareness, and empowerment opportunities, describes how they created a Youth Action Board (YAB) to plan and implement human trafficking awareness events and activities. The Project Protect Our Children YAB program is youth-led, research-based and survivor-informed.
YAB members are called to action, are encouraged to use their passion to make a difference and are given a platform for their voices to be heard. Collectively, youth learn about human trafficking and then collaborate, brainstorm, and reflect on solutions and project ideas to raise awareness among their peers and community. This program is age-appropriate for middle and/or high school students and with approval, will launch as a college program in January 2025.
Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) Advocacy: Texas' Strategy to Support the Long-Term Healing of CSEY
Presented on September 25, 2024
The Office of the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team and various statewide partners delve into the critical need for specialized advocacy for youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Learn what CSEY advocacy entails and its significance in fostering healing and resilience among affected youth as well as learn how to access CSEY advocacy for children and transition-aged youth. Lastly, the webinar highlights how CSEY advocates collaborate with other specialized advocates to create a cohesive support network.
Lived Experience and Lifelong Advocacy Leads to the CASA ACT (Anti-Child Trafficking) Framework at Texas CASA
Presented on August 28, 2024
Rhonda Kuykendall, a survivor of familial trafficking, shares her lived experience and how she has taken exposure to child sex trafficking at the age of ten years old to empower survivors and equip direct service providers on how to best advocate with survivors of child sex trafficking. Rhonda also shares information on the intersectionality of human trafficking and the child welfare system. Texas CASA created the Texas CASA ACT (Anti-Child Trafficking) to better equip CASA volunteers and staff across the state.
Towards a Safer Texas: Combating Sexual Violence Through Prevention, Intervention, Collaboration, and Policy Change
Presented on July 31, 2024
Members of the Office of the Governor's Public Safety Office (PSO) present and discuss Texas' response to sexual violence as seen through the lens of three statewide initiatives overseen by the PSO: the Child Sex Trafficking Team, the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force, and the Sexual Violence Prevention Workgroup.
Care Coordination: An Essential Component of the Texas CSEY Care Continuum
Presented on June 27, 2024
An in-depth presentation and conversation presented by the Office of the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team, The Children Assessment Center, and Harris County Resources for Children and Adults, focused on the Texas Model for Care Coordination, an essential component of Texas' strategy to serve commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY) through early-intervention, active investigation, and long-term follow-up care.
Keeping You Safe: Protecting Your Physical and Online Safety
Presented on April 23, 2024
Linsay Tomlinson and Aurora Garcia of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Worker Safety Support Division discuss creating physical safety in the workplace, including planning for safe client interactions, and handling potentially dangerous situations. Additionally, they address the significance of online safety and ways to safeguard personal information from unauthorized access.
Human Trafficking and Persons with Disabilities: Intersections and Opportunities for Prevention, Intervention, and Healing
Presented on January 31, 2024
The Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities and Tiffany Lee Consulting, LLC, joined the Child Sex Trafficking Team to explore topics such as vulnerability to exploitation for persons with disabilities, the often disabling health impacts of trafficking, disability resources and rights in Texas, and improving service accessibility and programming for clients with disabilities.
Updates from the 88th Legislative Session
Presented on August 30, 2023
The Child Sex Trafficking Team and Brody Burks, Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General's Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Division, take a deep dive into important human trafficking updates from the 88th Legislative Session.
Fentanyl: How it Effects Those We Serve
Presented on May 24, 2023
Toni McKinley, Executive Director of Magdalene House, presents the dangers of fentanyl, the barriers that exist to receiving help, and the solutions that are needed to help survivors of trafficking.
When Does Trauma Therapy Become Traumatizing?
Presented on March 30, 2023
Sarah Hall of the Texas Alliance of Children and Family Services and Julie Prudhome of Garth House provide thoughtful discussion for service providers to consider when referring survivors of trauma to and/or supporting them with various therapeutic interventions.
The Value of Collaboration in Addressing Commercial Sexual Exploitation, from Prevention and Awareness to Supporting Healing and Everything in Between
Presented on January 24, 2023
Lubbock organizations One Voice Home, Open Door, and Voice of Hope as they discuss how they have partnered to elevate awareness about Human Trafficking in the area and through this partnership are providing victim-centered,trauma-informed services to survivors.
TABC's Response to Human Trafficking
Presented on April 7, 2022
TABC plays a key role in stopping human trafficking from taking place within licensed alcohol retailers such as bars, nightclubs, and convenience stores. During this webinar, you will learn how TABC is addressing human trafficking and how communities can support those efforts.
First Spouses' Global Human Trafficking Summit
Presented on October 14, 2021
First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott and First Lady of Louisiana Donna Edwards have partnered in the past year to educate other first spouses along with key stakeholders across the country on anti-human trafficking efforts and resources they can bring back to their own states. The latest educational summit in October 2021 was hosted by the Texas Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team and focused on the growing crime on online exploitation of children and solutions to prevent it. Featured in this recording of the summit are:
- First Lady Donna Edwards of Louisiana
- Andrea Galliano Sparks, Director, Governor Abbott's Child Sex Trafficking Team
- Special Agent Jack Station, Homeland Security Investigations
- Belinda Swan, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
- Kristen Abrams, McCain Institute - REAL Friends Don't
- Sonya Ryan, Carly Ryan Foundation - Not on Our Watch, Texas
- And a special message from First Lady Abbott
Human Trafficking Updates from the 87th Legislative Session
Presented on July 15, 2021
Todd Latiolais, Prevention & Policy Administrator with the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team, provides an overview of new legislation impacting the issue of human trafficking.
Business Doing Good - Engaging Businesses to Hire and Empower Survivors
Presented on June 10, 2021
Shannon Deer and Cheryl Miller present on an evidence-based economic empowerment model based on six principles. This model is already gaining the attention of organizations and corporations, leading to partnerships that create employment opportunities with good wages and benefits for women overcomers.
What Are We Learning from Research About the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CSEY)
Presented on May 13, 2021
Child Sex Trafficking Team’s (CSTT) Director, Andrea Sparks, and North Texas Regional Administrator, Tomi Grover, present on how research informs our strategies to prevent and recognize the commercial sexual exploitation of youth, effectively recover victims and support their healing, and bring justice to their exploiters. For the past 2 years, CSTT has been curating relevant research from peer-reviewed journals, and providing helpful summaries of, and links to those full research reports on its website. CSTT also funds research on child sex trafficking and evaluations of innovative anti-trafficking programs and encourages collaboration by scholars in the field to amplify research efforts. This webinar will provide an overview of CSTT’s efforts re: research and what we are learning so far.
Rebecca Bender Moved to Texas!
Presented on February 11, 2021
Rebecca Bender is CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative and Founder of Elevate Academy. Rebecca is a leader, advocate and consultant who equips individuals and organizations to identify and fight human trafficking in their own backyards. She was appointed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, regularly testifies as an expert witness in court, and has trained over 100,000 professionals, including FBI. The Rebecca Bender Initiative is committed to changing the way Americans see and respond to human trafficking in their communities and empowering the survivors.
Disrupting the Demand for Commercial Sex in Texas – Progress and Lessons Learned So Far
Presented on January 14, 2021
Jamey Caruthers, the leader of the CEASE (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation) Texas team and CHILDREN AT RISK Senior Staff attorney, shares what we’ve learned over the past year of CEASE work including new data on regional buyer disruptions and ad tracking during COVID, as well as a look at what the next year holds for anti-demand. Buyer trends are changing and our tactics are changing as well. Learn more about our new approach to interacting with buyers, our next CEASE expansion cities, and how we are working to ensure maximum sustainability for all CEASE programs.
Gang Trafficking of Youth – Identification and Interdiction
This webinar contains images of violence inflicted by gangs. To access the webinar video, please contact us.
Sexual Exploitation of Boys: How to Prevent, Recognize and Prosecute It and Provide the Services Survivors Need
To access the webinar video, please contact us.
Texas Department of Public Safety’s New Standard Operating Procedures for Human Trafficking Investigations
To access the webinar video, please contact us.