Innovation is the whole story behind San Bernardino County's Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation.

It was a new idea that took innovation to create, and a wise and innovative grant writer to spot the money coming in from California's millionaires tax and petition for it. And still more innovation from law enforcement, public employees and private citizens eager to eradicate human trafficking before it sweeps up and destroys someone they love.

Even CASE's marching orders demand innovation. The first $849,000 grant won last year by Michael Schertell of the county's Department of Behavioral Health provided enough to activate the program, but the grant's terms also demand that CASE and the county come up with new ideas for rescuing children from a life of prostitution and human trafficking.

When Schertell learned last year that his grant application had been approved, he said, "I've been placing children for 20 years. It'll be nice to see that we are tackling this as the huge problem it is."

The money was awarded through the state Mental Health Services Act, which wants it spent developing programs that can be perfected and used in other California counties and perhaps even across the nation.
There's little out there now that's working, but CASE is picking up speed since its first coordinator, Anne-Michelle Ellis, was hired a few weeks ago.

"Once she joined our CASE team," said Children's Network Officer Amy Cousineau, "she hit the ground running.
"She is now leading our Community Education and Outreach group, and a subgroup that is focusing on creating a comprehensive CASE training plan," Cousineau said. Ellis reports to her.

When CASE reports on its innovations this year, it will be asking the state for the second $849,000 of the grant and hoping the innovations will meet the challenge. If that succeeds, there will be a chance for a third grant of the same amount, but then CASE will be expected to be on its own, raising money from foundations and other contributors who are willing to help return the troubled and abandoned boys and girls to productive and happy lives.

"There is much work to be done, and (Ellis) brings great enthusiasm to her new role," Cousineau said.
"She is doing a fantastic job, and she has only been at it for five or six weeks."

wes.hughes@inlandnewspapers.com 909-386-3894
Source: redlandsdailyfacts.com
State demands innovation in anti-trafficking effort - Redlands Daily Facts