INSTITUTE INSIGHTS Issue 15 | January 2021
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
SPECIAL TOPIC: HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: HUMAN TRAFFICKING SCREENING
On behalf of the Institute, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! We will put forth our best effort to make this a productive year and are hoping Dr. Jessica Pryce, director that 2021 is off to a great start for all of our stakeholders, collaborators, affiliates, and the families in Florida. We are certainly hopeful for better days ahead.
January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, especially children connected to the child welfare system. In the U.S., 60 percent of domestic child trafficking victims come from foster care and group homes. Florida is ranked third in the U.S. for human trafficking prevalence, and over one-fifth of the allegations investigated in Florida were for children in out-of-home care.
The Institute began collaborating with DCF to validate the Human Trafficking Screening Tool (HTST, Tool) in 2017. Updates on research efforts have been provided in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 annual reports (click here to read). In alignment with our recommendation in the FY18-19 report, we applied for and received a planning grant from the Florida State University Council on Research and Creativity to support qualitative data collection from designated screeners in 2020.
This year we will continue to engage in work which builds evidence around our Kinship Navigator Programs in preparation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. This is of high importance, as we want to do our part in strengthening and credentialing the programs which help to keep children safely with kin or familial-kin. We are also looking forward to beginning our Workforce Well-being & Enhancement Initiative, which will focus on leadership capacity within our organizations and improving the wellbeing of our agencies. Stay tuned for more information within the next few weeks. Florida’s Legislative Session begins on March 2nd, and the Institute will be present and available to provide evidenceinformed recommendations to our child welfare policy makers. Updates or changes to social policy relating to children and families will be shared with each of you. Annually, we host a Symposium focused on a particular child welfare topic which provides a training and collaboration opportunity for our affiliates and community stakeholders. In order to prioritize the safety and health of our community, the Symposium will be virtual this year. We will provide updates soon on the theme of the event, as well as the dates. We look forward to gathering and learning from each other. We wish you a healthy and happy year!
The Institute is collaborating with its affiliates, the Florida Department for Children and Families, and other stakeholders to help better identify and work with survivors. In this issue of Institute Insights, we will highlight research and opportunities related to human trafficking. The theme of the January Infographic is January: National Human human trafficking awareness. Please share Trafficking Awareness Month on your social media accounts! January 11th is #HumanTrafficking Awareness Day.
Click here to download the infographic The Institute is collaborating with its affiliates, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and other stakeholders to help better identify and work with survivors.
If you suspect a child is a victim, please call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE
Facts & Figures
3rd
Florida ranks
in the U.S. for human trafficking prevalence.1
Between 2011 and 2015, there were
4,413
trafficking allegations
investigated in Florida, which were coded as
sex (58.3%), labor (5.7%), or 2
unspecified trafficking (40.5%).
Over 1/5 of allegations were for children in out-of-home care (21.2%) and of those, over 1/3 were missing from care (37.1%).3
The Florida abuse hotline received
1,901
reports of human trafficking allegations in SFY 2019-2020,
approximately 1/4 of which were deemed verified as trafficking.4
Compared to other types of maltreatment investigations, Florida youth with human trafficking investigations are
more likely to have previous child welfare involvement. 3
Consequences of youth sex trafficking include
significant adverse physical and mental health impacts (e.g., injuries from violence, sexually transmitted infections, major depression, suicidality).5
To better meet the needs of these vulnerable youth, the Florida
which encourages Departmental circuits to better address the
Legislature enacted the
needs of sexually exploited youth,
safe harbor act of 2012
including expansion efforts for short-term safe housing
(fla. stat. § 409.1678),
availability and use.6
Institute Affiliates We have several affiliates who do human trafficking-related work. Learn more about their work in our affiliate directory:
ficw.fsu.edu/affiliates
We (virtually) conducted 26 individual interviews and five focus groups, with representation from disparate regions of Florida. Interviews gathered screeners’ experiences and perspectives on topics such as designated screener training, the process of utilizing the HTST, determination of likelihood of trafficking, and interacting with youth. Focus groups data collection centered on the Tool itself. Participants were able to share their thoughts on the HTST items but were also asked targeted questions based on the language of the Tool (e.g., “What does an ‘unsafe living environment’ mean to you?”). We anticipate completing this analysis in January and providing a report to the Department of Children and Families soon after. The report will be available on the FICW website. VIRTUAL PANEL OPPORTUNITY VOICES for Florida and the Florida Aliance to End Human Trafficking are hosting a virtual panel on January 19th from 10:00 to 11:30 am. The webinar, called Science and Society: The Impact of Trauma on Human Trafficking Survivors, will be moderated by Secretary Simone Marstiller of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Click here for the required registration.
AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT: KAREN OEHME
NEW PROJECTS
FINAL REPORT AVAILABLE
The Institute for Family Violence Studies, led by Institute affiliate Karen Oehme of Florida State University, codeveloped the Professional Certification in Human Karen Oehme, J.D., drector Trafficking Prevention & Intervention with the College of Social Work, the FSU Cetner for the Advancement of Human Rights, and the Center on Academic and Professional Advancement.
CONTRACT WITH ZERO TO THREE
To fulfill the objectives of Florida Statute (F.S.) 39.6225, the Institute contracted with affiliate Dr. Martie Gillen Dr. Martie Gillen (University of Florida) to evaluate the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP). Dr. Gillen and her team (Dr. Morgan Cooley, Florida Atlantic University; Selena Garrison, University of Florida) explored the experiences of program participants, potential participants, and staff; analyzed the program’s impact on caregivers and children; assessed programmatic communication procedures and marketing materials; and made recommendations to maximize participation.
Using a multidisciplinary approach, the certification focuses on human trafficking dynamics, prevention strategies, and evidence-based, trauma-informed intervention. Information on protections and services for at-risk you and child victims is included. The self-paced curriculum with twelve hours of content is appropriate for a range of professionals, with several roles eligible for Continuing Education Credits. It provides participants confidence that they can incorporate knowledge of traumainformed human trafficking prevention and intervention into their service and practice.
ZERO TO THREE is contracting with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to evaluate Florida’s Early Childhood Court (ECC). Continuing the work completed in 2018, the Institute will conduct a mixedmethods evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic modalities; and a qualitative exploration of the perspectives of ECCinvolved caregivers and providers regarding the therapeutic services and benefits of Early Childhood Court.
KINSHIP CARE NAVIGATOR PROJECT The Kinship Care Navigator Project is helping community-based care lead agencies build evidence for their Kinship Care programs. In the third phase of the kinship care navigator project, Dr. Yelick will lead her team to examine child-related outcomes such as permanency, safety, and well-being for five years post kinship navigator program services at Children’s Home Network. She will also work with Kids Central, Inc. to implement the evaluation plan designed during phase II.
Click here to learn more about the Certification and how to enroll. NEW INSTITUTE STAFF The Institute welcomes our first social leadership intern, Kayla Towle, to complete her master’s internship requirement. Ms. Towle will assist Dr. Magruder and Ms. Tutwiler with research and evaluation activities as well as work with our stakeholders on collaboration and policy projects. She will also have the opportunity to join Dr. Pryce, FICW director, at legislative meetings. See Ms. Towle’s bio on the Institute Staff Directory. To assist with the kinship care navigator project and the ECC evaluation, three new staff members have been hired. Colleen McBride will join the team as a full-time professional research associate and will transition to other projects as warranted. A graduate of George Washington University, she comes with research experience at the Education Testing Center and American Institutes for Research. Taylor Dowdy, PhD candidate, and doctoral student Michae Cain will serve as research assistants. 850-644-7201
WEBINAR OPPORTUNITY The Whole Child Professional Network assembled an expert panel to discuss youth trafficking. Speakers from Voices for Florida, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, and the Survive & Thrive Advocacy Center will discuss incidence rates, identification, resources, gaps that exist in our service system, and how to help prevent youth trafficking. This webinar, entitled Stolen Childhoods, will take place January 25th at 12:00 pm. Click here to register. CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITY The Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Center is holding it’s 2021 Florida Krimes Against Kids Conference July 21-23. They are now accepting speaker proposals, through January 25th. Click here for additional information. FICW@FSU.EDU
FICW.FSU.EDU
Surveys were distributed to caregivers as well as various staff roles, including those from the Department of Children and Families regional and Office of Child Welfare headquarters; child protective investigations; case management; and licensing and program administration. In addition, listening sessions were conducted with Level 1 licensed caregivers and caregivers who had cases close to permanent guardianship under the GAP. Similar key findings were noted across the different groups of participants. Perceived strengths of the GAP include resources for the caregiver and child (e.g., financial assistance, medical benefits for the child, tuition for the child). Staff also identified strengths regarding process and policy, including the availability of licensing waivers for greater flexibility, specifically for minor non-safety waivers; the simplicity of the Level 1 licensing process compared to other licensing levels; and the availability of funding to caregivers prior to adjudication of the child by the court. Participants also spoke about the challenges of the GAP, such as lack of statewide guidelines on the GAP referral processes, confusion regarding waivers, and lack the of support for tangible resources (e.g., fire extinguishers, second story home ladders) for caregivers. To promote consistent and effective messaging around the GAP, the researchers recommend message testing of marketing materials. The full report detailing the findings of the GAP evaluation is available to read and download; click here. @FSUChildWelfare