In the coming months you will learn more about FALI's increasing efforts to fight Human Trafficking (HT) in Florida. Last year we stood behind the bill that would make it law to add Human Trafficking education to Florida's K-12 curriculum at age appropriate levels. While it did not pass there is building momentum for it to go through this year.
Last week, at Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody's Quarterly Statewide Council on Human Trafficking meeting, the Department of Education announced that they are putting forth a rule for HT education to be require3d in all school districts in the State. If this rule, as well as the bill, pass that will be huge. Please take a moment to post on the DOE website your support of this rule by clicking HERE and then scrolling down to Rule #6A-1.094123 and clicking on "Submit Comments."
The following talking points were provided by our friend, Jan Edwards of Paving the Way Foundation. Feel free to customize comments or send as is. Either way, we need our voices to be heard in support of this rule:
Pick a few facts of the fact below and add why it's important to you i.e. As mom, dad, aunt, uncle, etc...
*Florida has the 3rd highest number of calls to the National trafficking hotline, behind California and Texas
That’s 7% of the total calls in the US – we have 2.9 million students in the state of Florida – our children are at great risk.
According to DCF the average age of entry is 12-14
Education has proven to make a big difference in disrupting the cycle of child trafficking, sexting and sextortion. Organizations like Paving the Way Foundation, Selah Freedom, More to Life have educated thousands of students in the state of Florida with amazing results. Here are just a few from Paving the Way Foundations 1st round of research:
60% Talked to their parents or a friend about what they learned
38% Walked away from a potentially dangerous situation
34% Shared a concern about another student with another
31% Stopped talking to strangers Social Media
24% Reported something suspicious
19% stopped bullying others
These programs do more that educate about human trafficking. It saves lives by creating connection, decreasing isolation and interrupting the bystander affect.
I'm asking you to vote for the Rule 6A-1.094123.
Thank you,
Thank you in advance for taking action on behalf of the PI profession. If you would like to view last week's meeting, click HERE
We Want YOU in the Fight Against HT!
If you are involved in the efforts against HT in our State, we would like to know more about it. Please send an email to admin@fali.org describing your efforts and if applicable, how other PI colleagues can get involved.
If you are not currently involved, please also send an email with what you are able to provide to the effort on a pro bono basis.
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