Collaborating to Keep Kids Safe Across Systems and Across the State: A Focus on Florida’s Schools

Schools are vital to an effective community response to human trafficking. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has been a leader in informing educators and all Floridians about human trafficking. Recent FDOE rules require each school to develop a plan on child trafficking prevention and education. Moreover, effective and safe school response plans include collaborations with many sectors and systems: child welfare professionals, school district leadership, federal and local law enforcement, mental health, victim services providers, culturally specific organizations, and other appropriate community partners – all important to the development and implementation of each school’s response and to student safety and well-being.

This certificate program and training with Valerie Ellery with the Florida Department of Education (read more about her below) will address new Florida Department of Education rules regarding human trafficking education, including how schools are impacted, and will help to identify actionable next steps for anyone who works with children and youth: teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, child welfare professionals, human services, law enforcement, justice system personnel, and all Floridians. Understanding your role – as both a professional who works with children or as an individual – in the prevention and eradication of human trafficking is the ultimate goal of this training.

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

Valerie Ellery is the guest speaker. She is the Human Trafficking Prevention Education Specialist and joined the Florida Department of Education’s Title IV, Part A team in October 2019. Valerie has dedicated over 30 years to the field of education in various roles including as a National Board Certified teacher, curriculum specialist, international educational consultant and best-selling author. Her books and resources in the areas of literacy, self-worth and human trafficking have been inspiring educators to motivate and engage today’s learners in classrooms and universities in 37 nations. She is currently focused on helping Florida schools by aligning child trafficking curriculum and resources to health education standards. Valerie is a devoted wife, mother of four adult children, and four grandchildren. She lives for creating healthy schools and families.

STAC needs your support to sustain these important webinars. Will you donate today? Each gift helps to bring this vital information to the many people who are empowering survivors and preventing human trafficking. The only way we can maintain these programs and this work is with YOUR help.

Suggested donation: $20