News  Suffolk Juvenile Assistant Chief Probation Officer and court are recognized for their efforts to end human trafficking of minors

Shirby Stewart-Best, Suffolk Juvenile Assistant Chief Probation Officer, was recently recognized by the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County for her “outstanding dedication and commitment to the Support to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) collaboration.”

Ms. Stewart-Best accepted a Certificate of Distinction Award on behalf of her court and was also presented with a separate Certificate of Distinction and Contribution Award at the Advocacy Center’s recent 20-year celebration held at Northeastern University on September 4th.

A 28-year Suffolk Juvenile Probation employee, Ms. Stewart-Best has served on the SEEN multidisciplinary team since August 2021. As a SEEN Collaborative member, she along with her team are “making progressive efforts to coordinate interagency responses for over 800 at-risk and commercially exploited children.”

SEEN has introduced legislation that prevents minor victims of “commercial sexual exploitation from being arrested and charged with prostitution and loitering with intent.”

Ms. Stewart-Best said, “It was very much a team effort. No one can do this work alone. However, I am thankful for the platform my job gives me to help children.”

Suffolk Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Kevin McClerklin said of Ms. Stewart-Best, "Shirby is passionate about helping people in the community. She works extremely hard to make sure that anyone walking through our doors is treated with dignity and respect."

According to the Children’s Advocacy Center website, SEEN provides a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to at-risk and sexually exploited youth that aims to:

• Empower victims to leave their exploiter or pimp and utilize opportunities to regain control of their future and life;
• Ensure victims' physical and psychological safety;
• Ensure victims' access to resources and services, including: medical & mental health care, substance abuse treatment, educational opportunities, job skills training, mentors/advocates, and more;
• Enforce offender accountability by apprehending and prosecuting adults who exploit youth; and
• Address the larger social issues impacting at-risk children through policy and education.