Week of 7/26/21: Open Doors Important Updates

April-June Open Doors Infographic Released

The Voices for Florida Communication Team has updated the quarterly infographic to include data through the month of June. We are so pleased to report that total victims served has increased to 1,249 with over 196,931 hours of direct service hours to date! This is an incredible reflection of how hard the Outreach Teams work every day.

To download the quarterly infographic, please click the folder labeled “ODON Weekly Update Materials” located in the bottom right corner on the SharePoint homepage.

Please email Tiffany with any questions!

 

Open Doors Weekly Update Emails Now Available on Voices for Florida Website

To make it easier to find previous versions of these weekly update emails, the Voices Communication Team has added them to our website. To access the web version of these emails, click “Secure Login” in the top right side of the navigation menu and input the password “Survivorcentered”.

This is a new feature as of July 2021, and we will continue to post each weekly email in this area of our website. If you have any questions or encounter difficulties accessing this section of the website, please contact Tiffany.

 

In case you missed it! Perspectives: Victim Blaming Webinar Recording

Special thanks to our presenters: Vicky Basra of Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, Michaela Denny of Voices for Florida, and Lindsay Smith of More Too Life!

This webinar featured a thought-provoking discussion about victim blaming, and the social and systematic barriers survivors of sex trafficking often face that perpetuates blame and a negative healing process. Listen to hear how professionals can use their skills and work alongside survivors to change this narrative.

In case you missed it, please click here to view the recording of this webinar. We encourage you to share this link with your networks to boost public education regarding human trafficking.

 

 

Reminder: Open Doors Contact List in SharePoint

As Open Doors team members are entering and leaving the Network, please make sure that you have the latest copy of the Open Doors contact list downloaded. The contact list is located under “Education & Training” -> “2020-21 Framework for Creating the Change” -> “2020-11 Toolkit” -> “General Information”

Please email Aquill with any questions!

 

 

Hoyt’s Tool of the Week

Shared Hope’s Internet Safety Website for Teens

Shared Hope’s Internet Safety team has paired up with teen-led anti-trafficking organization Youth Ending Slavery and up-and-coming graphic artist Kelly Pozil to create a mobile-friendly internet safety website for teens. This website starts discussions with youth about sex trafficking, how online sex traffickers work, how to protect themselves, and how to take action against online predators.

Click here to check it out!

 

 

Upcoming Webinars

World Day against Trafficking in Persons: The Challenges of Unaccompanied Minors on July 30th at 10:00 AM-11:30 AM EST

Hosted by John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy of St. Thomas University College of Law, International Rescue Committee and The South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force

This Webinar will feature distinguished panelist who will share their perspectives and firsthand accounts of the challenges surrounding unaccompanied minors as it relates to human trafficking. Participants will gain an understanding of the current situation and legal landscape regarding unaccompanied minors in the United States – from identification at the border, reunification with parents or placement with sponsors, cultural and linguistic challenges, barriers to receiving assistance, how the community can help, and more.  Participants will also learn how the vulnerabilities of unaccompanied minors are at times exploited into human trafficking. Participation is free and open to the public.

Register here

 

Emergency Housing Vouchers and Immigration Requirements Training on Jul 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM EST

Hosted by The Freedom Network USA Training Institute

This webinar will build upon information shared in our previous webinar on the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program. This webinar will focus on the eligibility requirements for immigrant survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. The presenter will also discuss how mixed-status families can utilize the EHV program. Free to participate.

Register here

 

Language Access and Housing Services on August 5th at 3:00-4:30 pm EST

Hosted by the Freedom Network USA Training Institute

This webinar will provide an overview of creating and implementing a successful language access plan for housing programs. The presenters will discuss the importance of cultural humility when serving survivors who identify as limited English proficiency, deaf or hard of hearing, and/or disabled survivors. Attendees will receive practical examples of how housing programs have implemented and maintained internal policies of language access and service accessibility. Free to participate.

Register here

 

From Text Messages to Trafficking: A Conversation on Grooming and the Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation on August 17th, 10:00-11:30am EST

Hosted by Voices for Florida and the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking

Speakers Katherine Gomez of Florida DJJ, Survivor Leader Jamie Rosseland, and Corporal Alan Wilkett of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office will discuss the various common forms of sex trafficking recruitment and how service providers can help to prevent this heinous crime. Free to participate.

Register here

 

Working with LGBTQ+ Survivors of Human Trafficking on August 19th at 2:00-3:30 pm EST

Hosted by the Freedom Network USA Training Institute

This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of best practices when working with LGBTQ+ survivors. Presenters will cover outreach, wrap-around services, and case management, housing, and immigration services specifically available to LGBTQ+ survivors. Free to participate.

Register here