A resource guide for Oakland Local's May 2010 8-part series on youth sex trafficking.

Many organizations are fighting the scourge of human trafficking of youth in California and around the United States. Know where to call if you see trouble or need help, and please support these organizations:

FOR OAKLAND AND CALIFORNIA:

HEAT Watch: Alameda County District Attorney's Office program to combat human exploitation and trafficking.

• Anonymous tip line: In Alameda County, Calif., if you see an incident where a child looks like he or she is being exploited for commercial sex -- or where it looks like trafficking is taking place -- call 510-208-4959

MISSSEY: Oakland-based organization "motivating, inspiring, supporting and serving sexually exploited youth." Provides nurturing, counseling and case-management services to young girls who have been commercially sexually exploited. Volunteer or donate now.

• 510-267-8840 (office), or 510-290-6450 (on-call)
• 470 27th St., Oakland, CA 94612

Covenant House: This national organization for homeless and runaway youth operates a youth shelter in Oakland. Their nationwide "Nineline" service answers kids' questions and provides support for children who face a wide range of tough issues, including sexual exploitation. Donate now.

• Call the Nineline: 800-999-9999, 2 p.m. to midnight EST, daily
• The Nineline also has Online forums and offers answers via e-mail.

New Day for Children: Maintains a safe house in California for the most traumatized victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Donate now.

• 510-629-2143

Alameda County Sexually Exploited Minors Support Network, part of the county's Interagency Children's Policy Council: A local network of social service providers and other partners who help local sexually exploited youth connect with support, services and safe housing.

• 510-618-3457

Oakland Police Department: Vice & Child Exploitation Unit: Investigates all vice-crime-related incidents, including child prostitution, Internet crimes against children and human trafficking.

• 510-238-7911

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Helps prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families and the professionals who serve them. Donate now.

• 24-hour hotline: 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678)

Children of the Night: Operates a home and hotline for children who are sexually exploited, raped, beaten or trying to escape the streets. Based in Van Nuys, Calif., but helps rescue and place children in local shelters from anywhere in the country. Donate money or vehicles now.

• 24-hour hotline: 800-551-1300

Polaris Project: One of the world's largest anti-trafficking organizations. Operates throughout the United States and in Japan. Offers direct outreach, victim identification, social services and transitional housing for victims, as well as advocacy lobbying and other programs. Donate now.

• Polaris operates the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, which has a 24-hour hotline: 888-373-7888

National Runaway Switchboard: Many young runaways are sexually exploited. "Call if you are a teenager who is thinking of running from home, if you have a friend who has run and is looking for help, or if you are a runaway ready to go home through our Home Free program. Call if you are a teacher looking for information to pass along to your students about alternatives to running from home. Call if you care about a youth and want information on how you can help someone who may be at risk of running from home." Donate now.

• 24-hour hotline: 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929)
• E-mail the Crisis Center: info@nrscrisisline.org

SAGE Project: "Standing Against Global Exploitation." Learn about commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults, and the efforts to end it. Runs the "Johns' School" in San Francisco. Site includes information for survivors and their families. Donate now.

• 415-905-5050

This story was produced under a fellowship sponsored by the
G.W. Williams Center for Independent Journalism, a project of Tides
Center.

We also would like to thank Robert Rosenthal and California Watch for their support -- as well as our reporters Barbara Grady and Sarah Terry-Cobo, and photographer Alison Yin -- for their amazing work.

Support more independent quality reporting like this! Please donate to Oakland Local on Spot.us. We are seeking additional support for continued coverage.