E395 Inner Voice-A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine & Erin Williamson- Stopping Child Exploitation

E395 – "Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine." In this episode, Dr. Foojan Zeine chats with Erin Williamson, the Chief Programs & Strategy Officer at Love146, where she leads efforts to prevent child trafficking and exploitation. With over 20 years of experience in social services and child protection, Erin has developed trauma-informed programs that have reached thousands of vulnerable youth across the U.S. She is also a parent, advocate, and expert in human trafficking prevention and survivor care. In 2014, Erin was hired by Love146 to build a Survivor Care program in Connecticut. Starting as a single staff member, the program has over 20 staff and serves 125-150 youth annually. Erin oversees all US-based programs, including a prevention education initiative implemented in over 30 states. Her leadership has expanded Love146's reach, focusing on trauma-informed care and addressing the complex needs of youth through the healing power of relationships and community support. Committed to bringing her on-the-ground knowledge to impact systems change, Erin has served on several state and national policy advocacy committees, including the Connecticut Trafficking in Persons Council and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children & Youth. Locally, she contributes as a Board of Education member in Woodbridge, CT. For more information, go to www.love146.org # 1 on the 20 Best California Mental Health Podcasts list by FeedSpot. https://podcasts.feedspot.com/california_mental_health_podcasts/  Check out my website: www.FoojanZeine.com, www.AwarenessIntegration.com, www.Foojan.com. Summary Dr. and Erin discussed the issue of human trafficking, mainly focusing on the prevention aspect. Erin shared her background as a social worker and her work with Love146, an organization that works with children and youth who have experienced human trafficking. She emphasized the importance of prevention and the need for a multi-tiered approach, including addressing the systems and structures that make children vulnerable to trafficking. Erin also highlighted the role of schools in identifying and intervening in potential trafficking situations. Dr. and Erin discussed the challenges of working with children who have been abused or neglected and the need for long-term support and trust-building. Erin encouraged the public to support organizations like Love146 through donations and raising awareness about the issue. Erin and Dr. discussed the importance of creating a safe space for children and fostering healthy relationships. Erin emphasized the need for open communication, trust, and the importance of showing up for children even when things are difficult. She also highlighted the need for caregivers to be aware of the impact of early life experiences on children's development. Dr. added that healthy relationships involve communication and working through difficulties, and caregivers should be trained to support children in these situations. They also encouraged parents to sign up for their email series for practical guidance on conversing with their children about social media and other issues.