For many children who enter our home, it is the first experience of living in a loving environment where the importance of personal space is appreciated, and planned activities and emotional and educational support to excel in school are provided.
Many of our graduates tell us they had no idea they could ever do well at academic work and succeed in the social integration they achieved while living at Children of the Night. Staff members are always present and vigilant, always there to wipe away tears, offer encouragement to complete homework assignments, and available to present awards for children’s accomplishments. Children of the Night residents are allowed to have fun: to go snowboarding; play on a softball team; visit Six Flags, Disneyland, Chinatown, and other local attractions; to enjoy the fun of getting their hair styled. Children of the Night teaches children how to be children.

Our home is open to children 11 to 17 who have been involved in prostitution. We work very hard to provide a comfortable, homelike environment. Children have the option to go to other appropriate placements — in a foster home,
group home, drug program, mental health program, special education program, college dormitory, or jobs and our independent living program. Many children opt for temporary treatment in one of the above programs and then return for independent living or college placement. Others choose to stay for a year or longer to complete more than one program.

Children of the Night is a highly structured program that keeps children busy during their stay. PARTICIPATION IN SCHEDULED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IS MANDATORY.

Children of the Night’s goal is to help child prostitutes re-enter mainstream society and go on to live healthy lives. When children enter our home, we work with each of them individually to develop a “life plan,” specifically suited to their needs — whether it’s foster placement, independent living, returning home, or placement in the dormitory of a four-year college. We teach our children how to set and obtain their goals. Each child is offered long-term support through our alumni program.

Many children voluntarily opt to stay for a year for optimum treatment; 13-yearolds may stay until they are 18. If children are placed in foster or group homes, they are normally placed in their hometowns, and we work with their probation officers or social workers to provide the extras children need in order to progress into adulthood: prom dresses, computers, clothes, driving lessons.

Above all, child prostitutes need to be prepared to cope successfully with longterm placement. Children of the Night gives them the time, tools, and care they need to build trust with responsible adults, to catch up on school credits, and to participate in normal activities typical of a normal childhood.

While Children of the Night is a voluntary program dedicated to working with child prostitutes who want help, we do report to courts on a regular basis. Judges have the power to keep cases active with a “want warrant” if a child skips the program. And we have the option to return children to courts, if they refuse to participate in our program.