The Dr. Lois Lee Show

Stephanie’s path into danger began long before she ever met an exploiter. At just 11 years old, she ran from an unsafe home, searching for distance and safety the only way she knew how. During those days away, adults took advantage of her vulnerability.

But what happened next reveals a system that still fails too many children.

When law enforcement found her, Stephanie was not treated as a child in crisis. She was handcuffed and se...

Part 2 of 2. In this episode pulls back the curtain on how an Oceanside-based gang recruited and controlled teenage girls — and how federal agents finally intervened.

When Victoria arrived at the Children of the Night home at just 13 years old, she stood out — not for what she’d been through, but for how brilliant she was. She quickly became the highest-testing student the program had ever seen, even as she navigated the trauma of her past. In this episode, Victoria reflects on her time living at the Children of the Night home, where she celebrated holidays for the first time, went on outings t...

A teenage night out turns into a nightmare when 15-year-old Nancy is trafficked hundreds of miles from home. Her story reveals how easily teenage rebellion and family conflict can be exploited — and how our justice system still fails to see children as victims.

Nancy was just a teenager — curious, restless, and searching for independence — when a party with older guys changed her life forever. Instead of coming home late, she was s...

This is Part 2 of Erika’s inspiring two-part story.

After surviving years of exploitation, Erika reflects on her time at the Children of the Night shelter home (1992–2017) — and how the love, structure, and care she received there changed the course of her life.

Dr. Lois Lee explains what makes the Children of the Night program different from others: it doesn’t just remove youth from danger — it rebuilds the whole child. Through co...

This is Part 1 of Erika’s powerful two-part story.

At just 14 years old, Erika was one of nearly 100 girls pulled from the system and called by the FBI to help locate two men who had exploited them. Terrified and unsure who to trust, she nearly lied to protect herself — but with her mother watching, she found the courage to tell the truth.

In this first part, Erika shares how she was brought into “the life” by another girl, trapped...

Dr. Lois Lee speaks with Juli, a Children of the Night alumna whose story spans child trafficking, addiction, motherhood, and redemption — a powerful portrait of survival and purpose.

At just twelve years old, Juli fled abuse and hitchhiked down California’s I-5 — a desperate act that led her to the doors of Children of the Night. Over the years, she returned again and again: as a teenager seeking safety, and later as a young adult...