History of the Open Doors Outreach Network
The Florida Legislature and Statewide Council on Human Trafficking called for increased service coordination for victims of sex trafficking, laying groundwork for the Open Doors Outreach Network.
The initial concept for the Open Doors model, emphasizing promising best practices and the importance of Survivor-Mentors and a team approach to services, was developed by American Children’s Campaign, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in collaboration with noted anti-trafficking experts Sandy Skelaney. Connie Rose, Shelley Katz and with input from a variety of stakeholder groups and survivors of trafficking.
American Children’s Campaign, the Policy Center and Voices for Florida teamed with Connie Rose, Shelley Karz and others to secure initial funding for Open Doors. Voices assumed the role of backbone organization.
Voices secured funding through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to bolster support of Open Doors direct services.
Voices launched the first pilot project of Open Doors to serve 7 counties in Northeast Florida with the Policy Center, and in the Big Bend Region with Children’s Home Society.
Services expanded to two more regions, serving 13 counties: Suncoast Region with More Too Life, and Southwest Florida with Children's Home Society.
Open Doors services expanded to two more regions (Central Florida with One More Child and North Coastal Florida with Children’s Home Society), serving 19 counties total.
Voices debuted Open Doors 101 – an online, interactive training module, as well as the Framework Guide for Creating the Change, a resource guide of promising practices for serving victims of trafficking and exploitation.
The Open Doors Outreach Network expanded from 19 to 32 counties throughout Florida to meet the increasing need for survivor-centered care.
Following through on Voices’ commitment to survivor-leadership, Open Doors reached a milestone of 13 Survivor-Mentors hired to serve sex trafficked children and young adults.
Partnered with Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Libertore Fund for Children to maximize impact of services for sex trafficked victims.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Voices and Open Doors switched to virtual work and began providing telehealth services to protect the safety of team members and those served.
Voices awarded grant of nearly $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to pilot transitional housing services through Open Doors.
Open Doors service milestone of over 1,000 child and young adult survivors of sex trafficking.
Expanded community partnerships with Cape Coral Community Foundation and The Margaret McCartney R. Parks Williams Foundation to support victim care.
Voices partnered with the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking and The Workmans to bring the End It Movement to Florida. This campaign used photography and social media to educate citizens and community leaders on the impact of human trafficking.
Voices launched and grew its Perspectives webinar series, which highlights survivor leaders and experts from the field to raise awareness and share promising practicesin prevention, identification and serving sex trafficking survivors.
