Human Trafficking Awareness and Recovery Helping youth become emotionally and financially self-reliant, overcome trauma, heal and lead productive and healthy lives.

The average age of entry into commercial sexual exploitation is 16 years old with virtually every community impacted.

San Diego Youth Services has helped thousands of children and young adults who are at risk for trafficking, as well as those who have already been trafficked.  Our goal is for the youth we serve to become emotionally and financially self-reliant, so that they are able to overcome the trauma they have experienced, heal and lead productive and healthy lives.

San Diego is ranked as one of the top 13 worst regions in the United States for human trafficking, with about 3,000 to 8,000 victims trafficked each year. 

Human Trafficking Stats
Educational Resources
Community Resources

A Story of Youth Success

Kim was raised in the foster care system, constantly moving from group home to foster home. She was brought into “The Life” by a peer at the age of 14, and by 17 had been trafficked along the coast of California.

She found her way to San Diego Youth Services at 19 years of age, and with our help she assisted in putting one of her traffickers behind bars. She completed her first semester in college and acquired a job. Now, Kim has a bright outlook and intends to break the cycle of abuse, neglect and abandonment for her child.

More Youth Success Stories

I Care Program

Our staff members work directly with survivors to get them back on their feet, by providing them with resources, including shelter and food, so that they are able to leave their old lives behind. We provide mental health services, educational support, employment opportunities, as well as support to their families.

I CARE supports youth, up to age 21, who are at risk for or have experienced sex trafficking or other commercial sexual exploitation. The program provides a mental health clinic and a drop-in center. I CARE provides services to youth and community training to youth, parents, educators and service providers at locations like Grossmont Union High School District, San Diego Unified School District, California State University San Marcos and San Diego State University, as well as organizations such as Jewish Family Service.

Last year, our I CARE program provided services to 160 youth.

I Care

Mental Health Services

I CARE's mental health services include individual and family therapy, 24-hour support and medication evaluation, treatment and management. Community training on commercial sexual exploitation is also available.

Mental Health Services
Psychiatry
Community Training

Drop-in Center Services

I CARE Drop-in Center offers skill development workshops, support groups, leadership opportunities and social activities that support healing.

The program offers specialized case management to help youth identify goals and create support around recovery, as well as education, employment and peer support services.

Case Management
Education Services
Employment Services
Peer Support Services
Family Support Services
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I CARE Contact

A program supporting youth up to age 21 who are at risk for or have experienced sexual exploitation. Questions?

Contact our team @ (619) 993-8050 or icarecp@sdyouthservices.org

I Care is held in a Confidential Location

Make a Referral

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public. It can be found at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.