Human Trafficking and Gangs

Live Web Event 1-2:30 p.m., EST Friday, August 21, 2020 

Hosted by: Florida’s Center for Child Welfare at USF. Audio will be provided through your computer. Attendance will be limited to the first 1,000 people who join this event. Please join early.

The Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking (BBCAHT), The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC) and the Florida Department of Children and Families invite you to participate in BBCAHT’s Monthly Third Friday Community Training Program: Human Trafficking and Gangs.

This free webinar (description below) is one in a series that BBCAHT and STAC is organizing during this time of social distancing and to keep up our Third Friday training schedule. We are happy to extend this invitation to friends and colleagues throughout the Big Bend and beyond – please join us, but registration is required.

DESCRIPTION: Gangs conduct criminal activity in all 50 states. Although most gang activity is concentrated in major urban areas, gangs also are proliferating in rural and suburban areas as gang members flee increasing law enforcement pressure in urban areas. During this session, attendees will learn to recognize signs of gang involvement including gang tattoos, terminology, graffiti and using hand signals. Attendees will also be able to recognize the warning signs and risk factors of youth gang recruitment. This session will also discuss the female’s role in gangs and how gang sex trafficking differs from other forms of trafficking.

Presenter: Marina Anderson is the Florida Department of Children and Families Regional Human Trafficking Coordinator for Northeast and Northwest Regions. She joined the Department of Children and Families Office of Child Welfare Human Trafficking Team in May 2015 and began her career with DCF in 2002. For thirteen years she worked as a Child Protective Investigator (CPI) in Duval County.  In 2014, she became a Field Support Consultant for DCF.  Marina is a recognized expert in safety methodology, providing training and mentoring to CPI and CPIS, and was personally recognized by Governor Rick Scott as a STAR Child Protective Investigator. Marina is a certified investigator and trainer in human trafficking, and a subject matter expert in critical injury, domestic violence, physical/sexual abuse and human trafficking. Marina is also an approved Human Trafficking Trainer for the Florida Sheriff’s Association. Marina is an executive board member of the Northeast Region Human Trafficking Coalition, Freedom 7 Human Trafficking Coalition and Panama City Human Trafficking Task Force. She is also a member of the Alachua County Coalition against Human Trafficking, Big Bend Human Trafficking Coalition and Circuit 1 Human Trafficking Task Force. Marina Anderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Florida.

Sponsors: STAC in affiliation with Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking and the International Rescue Committee.

Contact: STAC at stac@surviveandthriveadvocacy.org or 850-597-2080 

If you have technical questions or concerns, please contact Center Support staff at centersupport@usf.edu