#19 Protecting your kids from human trafficking.
SUMMARY This episode of From Foster Care to Family Law - A Child Welfare Focus features Roberta Katz, a board member and longtime volunteer for the Human Trafficking Coalition for the Treasure Coast in Okeechobee. She talks about her passion to prevent human trafficking and raising awareness in the community. Susan and Roberta discuss the programs and community organizations that are helping to combat against this growing issue. They also review the factors that can make people potential victims of trafficking. ------------------------------ HIGHLIGHTS [00:01:08] Roberta Katz explains human trafficking and how her experience with this has made it her passion to prevent it. [00:18:26] Factors that make you a potential victim of human trafficking. [00:22:16] Example of Human Trafficking instances. [00:40:23] Roberta describes certain red flags that a Child is in threat of being a victim of human trafficking. [00:45:30] Roberta talks about what she and her coalition does to prevent human trafficking. [00:54:01] How to help a victim of human trafficking. [01:02:28] How do people help prevent this issue? ------------------------------ QUOTES 12:29 “And she said, the 42-year-old man, when she was 16, told her if she had sex with him, he would give her a pillow and a place to sleep. That's survival sex.” 19:01 “Children at risk for recruitment and trafficking are children who are under 18 years old, walk to school or to the store alone, have access to a computer, are attracted to consumer goods, have a desire to develop romantic relationships.” 24:13 “We have all kinds of levels. They went into the rooms and they were spending money and buying costumes, the skins for random children that they didn't know. And then they were forming this bond because the child felt compelled as a thank you to talk to this person. That's normally Gift-ology.” 42:07 “I'm saying, if you see two calculator apps on the phone or two map apps, they've (Your kids) downloaded something and hidden it under a calculator app.” 58:54 “Just because your child's next to you and on the phone doesn't mean they're still not doing something that they shouldn't be doing.” ------------------------------ RESOURCES Roberta Katz Email: Roberta.katz@gal.fl.gov Florida Department of Children and Families (Children’s Legal Services): https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/childrens-legal-services/ DCF (Community Based Care): https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/community-based-care/ Florida Department of Education: http://www.fldoe.org/ Guardian ad Litem Program: https://guardianadlitem.org/ Info for 2021 Krimes against Kids Conference: https://www.fncac.org/save-date The Human Trafficking Coalition for the Treasure Coast in Okeechobee: Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HTCoalitionTC/ Shared Hope International: https://sharedhope.org/ Place of Hope: https://www.placeofhope.com/ Human Trafficking Hotline: (888) 373-7888 DCF Hotline: (1)-800-abuse https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/