2008

On April 13, 2008, CAST celebrated it’s 10 year Anniversary. Honorees for the 10th Year Anniversary were Rosilyn Heller, Robin Toma, and The Southern California Partners for Global Justice.

CAST received a Proclamation from the City of Los Angeles as a lead expert in Anti-Trafficking Advocacy. The award was presented to CAST on January 11th, Trafficking Awareness Day.

2007

California Senate Bill 1569 passed. SB 1569 provides access to critical services for immigrant survivors of human trafficking while in pre-certified status.

2005

California passes Assembly Bill 22 – The California Trafficking Victims Protection Act. AB 22 added to the California Penal Code, which establishes human trafficking for forced labor or services as a felony crime punishable by a sentence of 3, 4 or 5 years in state prison and a sentence of 4, 6 or 8 years for trafficking of a minor. The legislation also provides for mandatory restitution and allows trafficking victims to bring a civil action against his or her trafficker.

CAST is appointed to the California Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking.

CAST and Thai Community Development Center commemorates the 10 Year Anniversary of the El Monte Sweatshop Case. This event celebrated the accomplishments of the El Monte survivors and their families.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Area Task Force on Human Trafficking was formed. The mission of the Task Force is to improve tactics for identifying and rescuing trafficking victims, provide assistance to victims and prosecute those responsible for human trafficking. CAST is a member of the LA Metro Task Force on Human Trafficking.

2004

CAST opens the first and only shelter in the United States exclusively for survivors of trafficking with funding from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).

CAST holds the first graduation ceremony for its clients. Clients graduate from CAST services when they become stable and independent to lead their lives of self-sufficiency. They continue to be involved after graduation through CAST’s leadership development program as advocates.

CAST establishes its Legal Clinic program. The CAST Legal Clinic is designed specifically for survivors of trafficking and is the first of its kind in the United States. Survivors learn about their legal rights such as housing and labor rights to ensure they will exercise their rights at home and in the work place.

CAST establishes the Survivor Advisory Caucus which serves as a forum for clients to organize and become advocates to inform anti-trafficking policy and services through leadership development.

CAST is awarded the 2004 California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) Innovation Award for excellence in innovation. Innovation is a guiding principle at CAST and CAST’s programs and services model have been studied and replicated nationwide.

CAST received a PrCAST received a Proclamation from the City of West Hollywood for their admirable efforts for the advancement of human rights and equality.

2003

CAST and six partner Freedom Network member organizations launches and implements The Freedom Network Institute on Human Trafficking, a national training and technical assistance project with funding from the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement.

2002

CAST establishes the Legal Services Program. This program assisted first t-visa recipient.

1999

CAST establishes the Los Angeles Slavery and Trafficking Task Force.

1998

Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST) becomes the first established organization in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to serving survivors of trafficking.