No Wrong Door: Help for sexually exploited youth

The No Wrong Door initiative aims to remove shame and blame from the way Hennepin County interacts with youth who have been, or are at risk of being sexually exploited. A broad philosophy of treating this group of young people as victims and survivors of sexual abuse rather than as offenders influences practices across county lines of business, including public health, hospitals and clinics, children’s mental health, homelessness and housing, child welfare and child protection, law enforcement and juvenile corrections, prosecution and the public defender.

In 2014, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to identify, protect and help to heal sexually exploited youth; to prosecute traffickers, pimps and purchasers; and to prevent sexual exploitation of youth. The county’s work aligns with the state’s Safe Harbor Legislation and No Wrong Door model.

It is difficult to estimate the number of sexually exploited youth in Minnesota or nationwide. Hennepin County staff who interact with youth have pointed to a growing need for services and support tailored to sexually exploited youth.

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Every door is open to youth in need

No Wrong Door is more than a name. It’s a promise to young people experiencing exploitation that no matter where they enter the system, they can get help.

No Wrong Door is a part of the Safe Harbor network — a statewide network of victim-centered, trauma-informed services and safe housing.

Minnesota passed the Safe Harbor Law in 2011 to protect victims and survivors, treat them with dignity, and direct them to supportive services. Safe Harbor makes sure that sexually exploited youth are treated like victims, not criminals. Look for the Safe Harbor Regional Navigator in your community as a point of contact for information and to connect you with services for youth.

Learn more about Safe Harbor and the No Wrong Door service model.

To find your Regional Navigator and other services in the area, view the Safe Harbor Map (PDF).

Learn about sex trafficking

Minneapolis is one of the top locations in the United States for child sex trafficking.

Traffickers prey on youth who are already vulnerable. These vulnerabilities may include birth into a historically disenfranchised community, early childhood trauma, involvement in the child welfare system, and a lack of support at school or at home. There are many complex paths that can lead a youth to the moment of exploitation.

Traffickers use violence, coercion, fraud, or manipulation to compel a young person to engage in a sex act in exchange for something of value, such as money, drugs, food, shelter, rent, or membership/higher status in a gang or group. Traffickers will not always appear as traffickers — often times they may be the youth’s partner, friend, or manager.

Sex trafficking and exploitation is modern slavery and child abuse. It has severe, sometimes devastating effects on a victim’s mental and physical health for the rest of their life, and places them on a continuum of trauma.

Learn more about trafficking

Respond to sexual exploitation

In Hennepin County

If you suspect someone is being trafficked

Call 612-348-3552, or
File a report online.

Services statewide

Call the Day One Crisis hot line at 866-223-1111.
Text 612-399-9995.
Visit the Day One website.

Identify the signs of sexual exploitation

Money and belongings without an obvious source
Unexplained absences
Having unexplained hotel cards or pictures taken in hotel rooms
Tattoos, brands or markings, which may be name of trafficker, cost code, other ways of being marked
Searching applications or websites linked to sex trafficking
Signs of a physical and emotional relationship with an older person
Bruising, burns, scars, malnutrition, repeated or ongoing illnesses, broken bones or extreme fatigue
Trauma symptoms such as hypervigilance or constant agitation

Get resources

Handouts to print and share, from the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Safe Harbor, thelifestory.org and other resources.

For social workers and health care providers

How to identify sexually exploited youth (PDF)

A Professional's Guide to Safe Harbor (PDF)

Child Protection screening flowchart (PDF)

Recommendations for medical staff (PDF)

En Español

Recomendaciones para personal medico (PDF)

Educators and schools

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (PDF)

Recommendations for educators and schools (PDF)

En Español

Recomendaciones para educadores y escuelas (PDF)

Law enforcement

Informational guide for Law Enforcement (PDF)

Child Protection screening flowchart (PDF)

Recommendations for Law Enforcement (PDF)

En Español

Recomendaciones para el orden publico (PDF)

Parents and community members

Prevention, intervention and support resources for youth and families (PDF)

Human trafficking information for parents and caregivers (PDF)

Understanding the sexual exploitation of youth (PDF)

What is sex trafficking?

How to file for expungement

Get help sealing criminal records

En Español

Experiencias infantiles adversas (PDF)

Meet our partners

We are thankful to our contracted partners for helping us to serve youth. Check them out.

Annex Teen Clinic

Annex Teen Clinic is a sexual health clinic serving young people through age 25 with education and clinical services. They provide a full range of low-cost sexual health services including clinic services, referrals, follow-up, and education. All services are confidential, and no one is turned away for the inability to pay. Visit Annex online.

Children's Minnesota/ Midwest Children's Resource Center

Midwest Children's Resource Center is a child advocacy center and clinic within Children's Minnesota that provides a variety of services to victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Their program has multiple components: a medical clinic, a child advocacy center, and connection with community resources to provide a team approach to cases. Visit the center's website.

The Link

The Link is a youth-centered community-based agency that provides 23 programs within three areas — housing and supportive services, juvenile justice alternative programs, and Safe Harbor programs that include specialized shelter and housing for youth who have been trafficked or exploited. All of The Link's programs have been co-designed with youth who have lived experiences of involvement in the juvenile justice system, sex trafficking, and/or homelessness. Check out The Link online.

Get help in a crisis

If you or someone else is in danger, call 911.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Call 888-373-7888 or text 233733.

National Runaway Safeline

Call 800-786-2929.

RAINN: Rape Abuse + Incest National Network

Call 800-656-4673.

Other

View other crisis line options (PDF).

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