Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking Minutes

Wednesday February 25, 2015 1:30 – 3:30 pm   

1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

Attendees: Amy Beck, Not for Sale/Reinvent; Falilah “Aisha” Bilal, MISSSEY; Mollie Brown, Huckleberry 

Youth Programs; Patrick Buckalew, Huckleberry Youth Programs; Frances Byrne, Freedom House; Irene 

Casanova, Larkin Street; Cyndy Comerford, DPH Environmental Health; Blake Cushing, Mayor’s Office; 

Cristy Dieterich, DPH Newcomers; Lt. Michael Dudoroff, SFPD-SVU; Johanna Gendelman, HSA; Kelly 

Gilliam, Nalls Foundation; Pratima Gupta, St. James Infirmary; Allison Ipsen, DOSW; Carletta Jackson-

Lane, Sojourner Truth/SFCAHT; Minouche Kandel, DOSW; Jess Lam, Board of Supervisors; Antonia 

Lavine, SFCAHT-NCJW; Julie Lim, DOSW; Catherine McCracken, Mayor’s Office; Rose Mukhar; Emily 

Murase, DOSW; JaMel Perkins; Beverley Popek, OLSE; Lean Price, APILO; Dyanna Quizon, Board of 

Supervisors; Venus Rodriguez, Not for Sale/Reinvent; Angelina Romano, SFUSD Unaccompanied Minors; 

Lt. Ed Santos, SFPD-SVU; Hediana Utarti, Asian Women’s Shelter; Jocelyn Valencia, UC Hastings; Ana 

12/17/14 Minutes Approved [Perkins, Villagran]

Agenda Approved [Perkins, Gupta]

Local Massage Establishment Ordinance 

DPH gave an overview of the proposed legislation (File No. 141302, File No. 141303). The proposed 

legislation will codify recent state amendments, implement local amendments to ensure health and 

safety of workers, and provide recommendations to increase cultural competency to support healthy 

Background: DPH took over the regulation of massage establishments from the Police in 2003. DPH tried 

to influence a cultural shift away from sexual entertainment toward healing arts in the industry. In 2008, 

new state law introduced loopholes. It created state-wide standardization for practitioners. However, 

this law meant DPH no longer had permitting authority, and new businesses did not have to follow local 

land use regulations. 30-50% were estimated to engage in illicit activity. In 2013, DPH worked with 

Supervisor Katy Tang to support state legislation reform that returned local control to DPH.

Now, massage establishments must get a permit from and pay licensing fees to DPH. The proposed local 

legislation recommends DPH community outreach workers that will provide culturally competent 

services and language appropriate resources to massage establishment workers (i.e. health care and 

Timeline: File no. 141302 and 141303 will be presented at the Commission on Status of Women, the 

Health Commission, and then the Planning Commission. Eventually it will go to BOS Land Use 

Committee. Katy Tang’s office is currently doing outreach with concerned massage establishment 

owners. Her staff also met with the Sex Worker and Trafficking Committee for feedback. 

25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240 | San Francisco, CA 94102 | sfgov.org/dosw | dosw@sfgov.org | 415.252.2570

Human Trafficking Data Collection

There was a presentation on the data that has been gathered using the data collection tool created by 

the task force. The tool tracks type of human trafficking, reporting agency, known victims, suspected 

victims, offenders, demographics, and case processing information from July 1 2014 - December 31, 

2014. 11 departments have completed submission, 3 do not track, 3 do not have any cases, 2 cannot 

share, and 5 departments are in the process of submitting. This data will be presented in report to be 

released May, 2015 that will show current status of human trafficking in San Francisco, what the gaps in 

service are, and what needs to be done moving forward. There was a discussion the importance of 

tracking suspected victims in addition to known victims. Technical questions were answered about the 

data tool. An item to be addressed in future is how to deal with the duplication of numbers: can this be 

done without breaching confidentiality?

New Trafficking Laws in California

Rose Mukhar, Leah Price, and Falilah Bilal presented on California Human Trafficking Laws Enacted in 

2014. There was a discussion of new legislation that promotes education on sex trafficking 

prevention/awareness in schools and how this will benefit survivors reentering school communities. 

CAST is collecting relevant curriculum now to share with schools. New laws that enable the court to 

grant conditional examination and consider the convenience of the victim in the logistical planning of 

the trial are particularly empowering for survivors. See attached handout for a full summary of new 

laws. There was the suggestion that San Francisco County create an easily digestible fact sheet  for 

survivors on the new legislation.

There was a discussion of the need for housing. This is an important issue to the group that needs a 

dedicated solution. Long-term CSEC-specific housing will be focused on at an upcoming meeting.  

Alameda County has set aside money for this type of housing – anyone interested in this effort please 

get in touch with Falilah Bilal. 

Update from Super Bowl Committee

The committee is facilitating human trafficking training for Bay Area hotels and plans to collaborate with 

the No Traffic Ahead project. The Super Bowl Host Committee is promoting grants to the community. 

Update on Child Sex Trafficking Committee

SB855: Child welfare now has jurisdiction over CSEC and is working with Kate Walker from the National 

Youth Law Center to develop a San Francisco CSEC protocol. Survivor focus groups will be incorporated 

in the protocol development. This legislation has also secured funding for training: HSA will host a 3 day 

CSEC training with Nola Brantley aimed at FCS social workers, SFUSD, and foster parents. It was 

mentioned that staff/faculty at SFUSD continuation schools are especially in need of training for serving 

In partnership with West Coast Children’s Clinic, HSA is promoting a standardized state CSEC assessment 

guide: pilot project will begin in April. 

Update from Huckleberry: Kailey Norris is the new staff person providing case management for CSEC 

ages 11-24 at the Cole St. Clinic location. A protocol for sending referrals to her was shared. 

Update on Sex Worker and Trafficking Committee

The immunity policy with DA is almost complete, and the group will now focus on the companion piece 

from the Police Department. These policies aim to increase protection for sex workers reporting 

2  | San Francisco Department on the Status of Women

St. James is developing a digital Bad Date Line and is now providing substance abuse support and mental 

health services for adult survivors of sex trafficking. 

Legislative update on massage parlor establishments will be on the next meeting’s agenda. Next General 

Task Force meeting will be April 29, 2015. 

 MISSSEY: Gala on May 2, 2015 – launching public awareness campaign

 DOSW: Found funding for SafeHouse and Not for Sale; launching anti-bullying education 

including human trafficking and sexual assault awareness in schools, partnering with Caravan 

 NCJW: Established two scholarships:

o Human Trafficking Survivor Scholarship – two clients of MISSSEY

o Memorial Scholarship – Omega Boys Club, Potrero Hill

 SFCAHT: Teen Poster Contest was successful; there were 11 submissions and youth liaisons at 

schools are now doing outreach in school communities  

 Not for Sale: Accepting applications for 3rd cohort of Reinvent: Bay Area