This second video in a three-part series informs viewers about the intersection of juvenile justice and Black girls currently facing or at risk of exploitation, noting the criminalization and adultification of those Black girls in the juvenile justice system; it also highlights a private practice mental health agency in Alabama that works in partnership with the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama, and provides tips on engagement with Black girls who have been involved in the juvenile justice system.
This video features a conversation with Fanicy Sears, the owner of eMotion Therapy, LLC, which is a private practice mental health agency in Birmingham, Alabama. Ms. Sears works in partnership with an organization that is led by judges, called Children’s Aid Society of Alabama, and has the mission of changing lives, building families, and strengthening communities. The video challenges viewers to address three main questions: to explain how the adultification and sexualization of Black girls contributes to their involvement with the juvenile justice system; to identify where improvements can be made on a local and governmental level that will address and combat the criminalization of Black girls who have been exploited; and to provide some policy recommendations that promote practical, actionable, and accessible tools to address the criminalization of Black girls who have been exploited. The video also features a special clip from an OVC Learning Series, in which Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie provides tips for engagement with Black girls who have been involved in the juvenile justice system. The three-part video series is presented by Youth Collaboratory, which works to prevent and reduce the victimization of Black girls who are vulnerable to sex trafficking by expanding the skills of program providers and other stakeholders who share the goal of preventing the trafficking of Black girls. The video series covers topics based on the emerging trends and promising practices for prevention and early intervention for Black girls who are either at risk or currently experiencing sexual exploitation or domestic sex trafficking.