Florida ranks seventh in the nation for human trafficking cases, with the Department of Children and Families playing a key role in combating this crime. Recently, the agency allocated $900,000 in grant money for law enforcement to fight human trafficking. DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris emphasized the importance of awareness in combating and eliminating human trafficking, highlighting tools and resources developed by the department to identify and address trafficking risks. Initiatives like the Child Welfare Human Trafficking Identification Assessment and the Community Human Trafficking Identification Guide, created in collaboration with the University of South Florida, aim to empower investigators, teachers, and medical professionals to identify potential cases of exploitation and trafficking. Dr. Joan Reed, Director of the USF Human Trafficking Risk to Resilience Research Lab, praised Florida’s evidence-based practices in preventing human trafficking. With 738 reported cases in 2024, Florida ranks behind California and Texas for the highest number of human trafficking cases. The state’s efforts to combat this crime are critical in protecting vulnerable children and adults from exploitation and trafficking.
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