Florida Interagency Human Trafficking Workgroup Work Plan

Transcription

1 Florida Interagency Human Trafficking Workgroup Work Plan

2 CONTENTS Overview... 3 Background... 4 HUMAN TRAFFICKING SCOPE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN FLORIDA WORKGROUP Past Workgroup Accomplishments... 6 STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SUMMIT DJJ VICTIM IDENTIFICATION PILOT PROJECT RIBBON & PROCLAMATION CAMPAIGN Initiatives... 8 Stakeholders and Strategic Partners... 9 Ongoing Activities Resources Contact Information rev

3 Overview This work plan outlines the scope of the Interagency Human Trafficking Workgroup (Workgroup), to be chaired by DJJ Secretary Wansley Walters. The Workgroup is a continuation of the Human Trafficking Workgroup Secretary Walters chaired under the Florida Children & Youth Cabinet. The Workgroup seeks to bring together key state agencies and stakeholders to combat human trafficking in Florida by further implementing Florida s Strategic Plan on Human Trafficking. Workgroup meetings will be led by Secretary Walters and Terry Coonan, Director of Florida State University s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (FSU CAHR). rev

4 Background A. Background of Human Trafficking Human Trafficking is modern day slavery. Criminalized under both federal and Florida law, it is defined as the transporting, soliciting, recruiting, harboring, providing, or obtaining of another person for transport; for the purposes of forced labor, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation using force, fraud and/or coercion. Forced labor may result when unscrupulous employers exploit workers who are vulnerable due to high rates of unemployment, poverty, crime, discrimination, corruption, political conflict, citizenship status or cultural acceptance of the practice. Victims of domestic servitude generally have an informal workplace such as a home, which often socially isolates domestic workers from the community. That type of informal workplace is conducive to exploitation since authorities cannot inspect private property as easily as they can inspect formal workplaces. Sex trafficking of an adult usually involves being coerced, forced, or deceived into a commercial sex act. Commercial sex acts include, but are not limited to prostitution and/or pornography as a means for the perpetrator to make money. In the state of Florida, if the victim is a child then force, fraud or coercion, does not need to be proven. The mere fact the victim is a child and the act meets the definition of a commercial sex act, makes the child a victim. There are an estimated 27 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. Across America, almost 300,000 youth are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking. Many are being trafficked in our own communities. B. Scope of Human Trafficking in Florida The problem of human trafficking is not new, but generally the American public still perceives it as primarily a third world problem or one only affecting nationals of other countries being trafficked here. In actuality, Florida is the third most popular American destination for human traffickers. Florida is an agricultural state, and human trafficking in labor to work in our fields has been identified as an issue for many years. However, as a tourism-based economy, Florida is also ripe for trafficking in labor to work at restaurants, country clubs, and hotels. While labor trafficking is the most prevalent type of human trafficking that occurs in Florida, sex trafficking, including domestic minor sex trafficking is also prevalent, yet is the most under-reported offense. From July of 2009 to January of 2013, the Department of Children and Families investigated 1266 reported cases of human trafficking of minors. 717 of these youth were involved with the Department of Juvenile Justice. The vast majority of these cases involved American youth. rev

5 C. Background of Workgroup During the 2009 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 168 created a Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force co-led by the Secretary of the Department of Children and Families and Commissioner of Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The legislative mandate to the Task Force, which began its work in October 2009 and concluded in June 2011, was for examining the problem of human trafficking and recommending strategies and actions for reducing or eliminating the unlawful trafficking of men, women and children into this state. As part of the Task Force s examination of the scope of human trafficking in Florida, a Strategic Plan on Human Trafficking was developed by the Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (Resources p.12). It provided an examination of the actions governmental and private non-profit agencies could take to educate their employees to recognize human trafficking, provide assistance to victims of trafficking, and prosecute persons engaged in trafficking. The Strategic Plan recommended 188 specific actions by the Legislature, state agencies and communities that would promote a comprehensive response to trafficking in Florida. Once it received the Strategic Plan, the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force sent questionnaires to all state agencies and private non-profits identified in the report asking what actions should be taken in response to the recommendations. Questionnaires were sent to fourteen state agencies, the twelve Anti-Trafficking Task Forces in Florida, and more than thirty private, non-profit agencies providing services to victims of human trafficking. Eighteen responses were received; twelve from state agencies and six from local task forces or service providers. The Implementation Report (Resources p.12) outlines the responses and the progress that has been made in enacting the recommendations of the Strategic Plan. In the fall of 2011, the Chairman of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary David Wilkins, created a Human Trafficking Workgroup. Secretary Wilkins appointed the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Secretary Wansley Walters to chair this workgroup. Under the leadership of Secretary Walters, this workgroup focused on child sex trafficking and collaborated multiple state agencies, local governmental entities and non-governmental community stakeholders from around Florida to launch several anti-trafficking initiatives. These included 1) Hosting a Statewide Human Trafficking Summit in September of 2012; 2) Launching a victim identification pilot project within DJJ; and 3) Leading a public awareness campaign for Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Please see the Accomplishments section for further discussion of these initiatives. In January of 2013, the Workgroup was moved from under the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet to DJJ, in hopes of further operationalizing the work being done by state agencies. This work plan outlines the scope of the Workgroup s focus moving forward. rev

6 Past Workgroup Accomplishments A. Statewide Human Trafficking Summit On Monday, September 24, 2012, more than 250 concerned state and community leaders and advocates attended the first Florida Children and Youth Cabinet Human Trafficking Summit to learn about trafficking in Florida, what the state is doing to prevent it, and what people can do to help victims in their own communities. Another 300 individuals participated in the live online webcast of the event. Attorney General Pam Bondi participated in the Summit with Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins and Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Wansley Walters. Breakout sessions focused on identification and research, law enforcement, service providers, and survivors. Several Floridians were honored for their efforts to stop human trafficking and help victims. Rep. Erik Fresen Florida Safe Harbor Act Bill Sponsor Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle Prosecutor of the Year Tonja Marshall, Group Supervisor for the Department of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Official of the Year Trudy Novicki, Executive Director of Kristi House, and Sandy Skelaney, Project GOLD Program Manager at Kristi House Advocates of the Year The Summit can be viewed in its entirety here: To see the Twitter feed from the event, search #Trafficking2012. B. DJJ Victim Identification Pilot Project The Victim Identification Pilot Project, which launched in August of 2012 and will conclude in June of 2013, is aimed at improving the delinquency system s identification of victims of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). This federally funded pilot project enables DJJ to make research-based changes to the Broward, Miami-Dade, and Orange County Juvenile Assessment Centers existing intake processes; specifically, DJJ began incorporating Shared Hope International s INTERVENE victim identification tool. This tool uses a tiered, traumainformed, strengths-based approach to identification and was developed collaboratively by survivors and advocates. As part of the pilot, a new alert was created in DJJ s data system to track both suspected and confirmed victims. A one-day training featuring Shared Hope International staff was held prior to the implementation of the INTERVENE victim identification tool in each pilot site. Attendees received training on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, recognizing indicators of victimization, and properly use the INTERVENE screening tool. rev

7 The results of this pilot project will inform DJJ s creation of comprehensive anti-trafficking policies and procedures, to be in place by January of C. Ribbon & Proclamation Campaign In January of 2012 and 2013, the Workgroup spearheaded a navy blue ribbon campaign in the Capitol, in conjunction with Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Cards sent from DJJ Secretary Wansley Walters, DCF Secretary David Wilkins, and APD Director Barbara Palmer educated the Legislature on Human Trafficking s impact on Florida and they also held a joint press conference to raise awareness. In both years, Governor Scott issued anti-trafficking proclamations. In 2013, the Workgroup secured similar proclamations from 14 local government entities across the state. rev

8 Initiatives The Workgroup s initiatives aim to combat all forms of human trafficking. This includes labor and sexual exploitation of male and female adults and children. In order to do this, the Workgroup will have two main initiatives. The first initiative is furthering the implementation of Florida s Strategic Plan on Human Trafficking (see Resources section). An interagency workgroup is needed to do this because some recommendations require the collaboration of multiple agencies. Additionally, implementing many of the recommendations will be expedited if agencies pool their resources and expertise, and partner with well-established NGO partners. The Workgroup will have three goals regarding the Strategic Plan Implementation. The first is to create an action plan for each agency. The deliverable will be a compilation published by FSU CAHR, in a format similar to the Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force s 2011 Implementation Plan (Resources p.12). The second goal is to identify legal and/or policy gaps impeding agencies ability to combat trafficking. The deliverable will be legislative recommendations. The third goal is to evaluate the need for revision and implementation of human trafficking training curricula in each agency. The deliverable will be to pilot curricula for respective agencies. The second initiative is executing the second Statewide Human Trafficking Summit. Consistent with the Workgroup s focus, this year s Summit will address all forms of human trafficking: labor and sexual exploitation of both male and female adults and children. The Summit will be a fullday event and will take place on September 30, 2013 at the University of South Florida s Marshall Student Center. The event s aim is to provide free education and training to the general public, students, and state employees. The Summit will accomplish this through providing several breakout sessions focusing on different forms of trafficking and providing profession-specific training to equip attendees to recognize indicators of victimization. rev

9 Stakeholders and Strategic Partners The Workgroup will be divided into two committees: the Strategic Plan Implementation Committee and the Summit Planning Committee. Invitations for Workgroup membership were sent to every state agency that was issued recommendations in the Strategic Plan. Additionally, key non-governmental organizations will serve on one or both committees in a consulting capacity. Invitations were sent to the following stakeholders and strategic partners: Both Committees: - Executive Office of the Governor - Office of the Attorney General - Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Department of Financial Services - Agency for Persons With Disabilities - Department of Business and Professional Regulation - Department of Children and Families - Department of Economic Opportunity - Department of Education - Department of Environmental Protection - Department of Health - Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles - Florida Commission on Human Relations - Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission - FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights Strategic Plan Implementation Committee: - Americans for Immigrant Justice - Coalition of Immokalee Workers - Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking - Florida Gulf Coast Legal Services - Klaas Kids - Kristi House - Robin Thompson, Esq. - St. Thomas University - Wendi Adelson, Esq. Summit Planning Committee: - Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking - Tampa Junior League rev

10 Ongoing Activities Workgroup meetings will be led by Secretary Walters and Terry Coonan, Director of Florida State University s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (FSU CAHR). As CAHR was instrumental in researching and authoring the 2010 Florida Strategic Plan on Human Trafficking, we will again call on them to assist with identifying deficiencies within our state and make recommendations to eradicate human trafficking in Florida. Six months into the meeting schedule, the Workgroup will decide whether to add additional meeting dates to the end of the meeting schedule. Meeting dates and times for both committees: o April 16, :30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee only o May 7, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee 2:30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee o June 12, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee 2:30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee o July 17, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee 2:30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee o August 14, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee 2:30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee o September 4, :30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee only o September 11, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee 2:30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee o September 25, :30-3:30 Summit Planning Committee only o October 3, 2013 Statewide Human Trafficking Summit o October 23, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only o November 13, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only o December 4, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only o January 15, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only rev

11 o February 12, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only o March 12, :30-2:30 Strategic Plan Implementation Committee only Meeting Location: Department of Juvenile Justice Knight Building - Secretary s Conference Room 2737 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, FL rev

12 Resources A. Plans and Reports For more information on human trafficking efforts here in Florida, please refer to the following links: Florida Strategic Plan on Human Trafficking (2010): The Strategic Plan s recommendations can be viewed here: Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force Implementation Report (2011): Between January and June 2012, Polaris Project conducted a survey of anti-trafficking organizations providing shelter services with the goal of estimating the total number of shelter beds available to human trafficking survivors in the United States. ivors.pdf B. Stakeholders and Strategic Partners Websites: Office of the Attorney General - Human Trafficking Website Florida Department of Children and Families Human Trafficking Website Americans for Immigrant Justice Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking Coalition of Immokalee Workers FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking rev

13 Gulf Coast Legal Services KlaasKids Foundation Kristi House St. Thomas University Human Trafficking Academy x rev

14 Contact Information Courtney McCowen Tyson Elliott Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Human Trafficking Director Tallahassee, Florida Alachua, Florida Office: Office: Cell: Cell: rev