Understanding the Link Between Persons with Disabilities and Human Trafficking

During this training, we will discuss how people with disabilities are often targeted for sex and labor trafficking and exploited for financial gain. You will learn more about red flags of trafficking and next steps to take if you believe that someone you know may be trafficked or is being groomed for trafficking or exploitation.

Educating the community to understand what human trafficking looks like on the local, state, and national levels is a vital step to ending human trafficking in the United States.  People with disabilities are at risk of experiencing human trafficking. Traffickers deliberately target people with vulnerabilities as a means of manipulation and control. Some risk factors that traffickers try to exploit may include education gaps, societal isolation, and lack of access to services and support. Persons with disabilities often experience widespread societal discrimination that can result in their family, friends, and even the authorities not believing them when they report abuse.

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Presenter: Marina Anderson, Regional Human Trafficking Coordinator, Northeast and Northwest Regions, Florida Department of Children and Families 

About the Speaker: 

Marina Anderson, Florida Department of Children and Families Regional Human Trafficking Coordinator for Northeast and Northwest Regions. Marina joined the Department of Children and Families Office of Child Welfare Human Trafficking Team in May 2015. She began her career with DCF in 2002. For thirteen years she worked as a Child Protective Investigator (CPI) in Duval County.  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 Anderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Florida.

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