It is always interesting when headlines use words such as saved or saving.  There is more than a hint of "look how wonderful we are, we saved children. Pat us on the backs and see how much we do for the collective you".  I can only begin to imagine how much money was spent to save these 21 young people and what a dfference this same money could have made in their lives if it had been utilized differently.

I do not believe the words "teens and sex work" should be coupled.  A teen/adolescent/youth still has much of the child within them.  Adolescents are finding the balance between becoming adults (hence the phrase young adults) and responding to certain situations in the same way as when they were a child.  Humans are sexual beings, but our society prematurely sexualizes its children.  It concerns me when children (anyone under 16) has to resort to the sex trade in order to survive.

I have worked with marginalized youth and street kids for long enough to know few young people leave home because they don't like the rules or structure in the home.  They leave because life at home is worse than the risks of living on the street. 

I am frustrated that our society does not value children sufficiently to insure adequate support and programs are available to young people who can no longer live in the family home.  Forcing anybody to do anything does not work.  Youth who are survivors of abuse do not belong in the justice system, nor in a shelter.  Adults often mistake the survival behaviors of youth as disfunctional or inappropriate and think the young person should be in residential "treatment". In my experience the young person is more likely to need a safe, warm, supportive living environment and possibly support as they recognize their survival behaviors may not be necessary anymore and are getting in the way of the next step in their life journey.

I also agree with your statement regarding meeting "...them where they are, finding out what they need, and offering services they will use while building trust and helping them form goals and make plans for meeting them."  People solve their own problems, offering our solutions to another's experience is of no value.  We need to respect the life experiences the youth brings with them and support them as they take the next step in their lives.

I have no issues with the sex trade, if the sex trade worker is an adult who has made an independent decision to enter into the transaction.  When basic survival is the motivation behind sex work I believe it illustrates the deficits which exist in our society to support those who are at risk.