Meet Our Team
PACT aims to provide customized technical assistance, training and linkages, rooted in harm reduction and guided through the lens of those with lived experience, to support the improvement of services to children and youth who have experienced sex and/or labor trafficking. We work with an amazing team of staff and consultants throughout the State of California.
Melissa Gomez
PACT Project Director, Child and Family Policy Institute
Mia Stizzo
Administrative Assistant, Child and Family Policy Institute
Ronna L. Bright
MSW, Children and Family Services, County of Ventura Human Services Agency
Diana Cisneros
Director Hope Rising, Consultant CSEC Action Team Human Trafficking Trainer And Advocate
Jamelia Hinds-Vicks
Anti-Trafficking Consultant
Julie Defranco
MSW, Program Manager, San Luis Obispo County Department Of Social Services
Rachel Ibarra Smith
Case Manager And Human Trafficking Advocate
Russell Glenn Wilson
Anti-Trafficking Expert, Consultant, Researcher
Suleman Massood
Consultant Anti-Trafficking Expert
Our Partners
In fall of 2020, Child and Family Policy Institute of California launched an expanded Preventing and Addressing Child Trafficking – PACT Statewide Model to support all California Opt-In Counties, funded by the CDSS Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Program. We work closely with our partners and funders at the CDSS Child Trafficking Response Unit (CTRU) and the County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA).
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Child Trafficking Response Unit (CTRU) began in November 2014. CTRU administers the Senate Bill 855 voluntary (opt-in) Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Program and provides support to child welfare and probation agencies in all 58 counties in California to meet federal and state requirements to screen and assess the needs of children at-risk or victims of CSEC.
The County Welfare Directors Association of California – CWDA – is a nonprofit association representing the human service directors from each of California’s 58 counties. The Association’s mission is to promote a human services system that encourages self-sufficiency of families and communities, and protects vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.
Customized Technical Assistance & Training Requests
Participating PACT Counties can access no-cost customized Training or Technical Assistance from the PACT Team.
*To maximize funding, counties with capacity may match PACT funds supporting compensation for PACT Survivor-Thriver Consultants.