Cassandra Trahan

Background

About Cassandra Trahan

Cassie’s interest in working with youth began in Mrs. Retzlaff’s Child Services class at Tualatin High School. She later graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human, Development and Family Science with minors in psychology and sociology. Following graduation she had the privilege of working in a residential treatment center for children who had faced abuse and neglect. This work led her to seek additional education in order to better serve the youth she planned to work with. Through the University of Denver she received her Masters in Social Work with a focus in clinical practice. Cassie practiced as a Child and Family Therapist in an intensive outpatient treatment program during which time she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Oregon. It was during this time in community practice that she became aware of commercial sexual exploitation of children and the reality that she lives in one of areas with the highest rate of domestic sex trafficking. Cassie continued her formal education with the achievement of a nursing degree through Oregon Health and Science University while continuing her work with victims and survivors. It was the overwhelming realization that there are inadequate resources as well as a lack of education within our community that led Cassie to join Austin in the formation of this agency.