Human Trafficking Virtual Community Training Event
Free Virtual Human Trafficking Community Training
The city of West Hollywood is inviting the public to a free virtual educational training to discuss issues pertaining to human trafficking to assist participants in helping support and advocate for victims.
According to a press release from the city of West Hollywood, the Human Trafficking Community Training will take place on Tuesday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. via a Zoom webinar; the training is open to the public, but registration is required to attend.
Training will be led by Dawn Schiller, an expert survivor-leader in the anti-trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault movements, who previously provided trainings for a similar topic for West Hollywood. Schiller provides firsthand insight to community advocates on survivorship, education, and service to others. She is a national speaker, educator, consultant, and author.
In 2020, she participated in the City’s Human Rights Speakers Series panel discussion about human trafficking. In 2019, she provided training to public safety personnel, law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, and code compliance officers about human trafficking, notice requirements, and standards for businesses.
“As important as it is to conduct training among our public safety personnel, it is just as critical to educate and raise awareness among our city’s commissioners, advisory board members, and the community at large,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister. “Being able to recognize the signs of human trafficking is the first step to combatting human trafficking.”
“Human trafficking is a crisis throughout the world. Hundreds of thousands of victims are trafficked in the United States,” said City of West Hollywood Councilmember Sepi Shyne. “This training provides our community and City officials with the crucial tools needed to join the fight against human trafficking. We need to know what to look for in order to see something and say something.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is “modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” Victims of human trafficking include all genders, ages, races, countries, and socioeconomic statuses. Individuals in vulnerable situations — including migrants and refugees fleeing conflict or disaster, homeless LGBTQ youth, women and girls, and children in poverty — are preyed upon and may be more likely to be targeted by traffickers. The different kinds of human trafficking include sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. Any person under the age of 18 involved in a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking.
According to the Polaris Project, which publishes data based on calls, text messages, webforms, emails, and webchats with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, over 25 million people are trafficked worldwide, and California is one of the largest sites of human trafficking in the United States.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline has seen a 40-percent increase in emergency calls since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST),a Los Angeles-based human rights organization and one of the nation’s largest provider of services to survivors of human trafficking, has seen a 185 percent increase in human trafficking cases during the pandemic, compared to 2019. One-hundred percent of CAST’s urgent trafficking cases have been homeless people who were trafficked.
For anyone who has become a victim of human trafficking or know of a trafficking situation, there are resources to help:
- The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and support to get help and stay safe. The hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the appropriate authorities in certain cases. Toll-free phone and SMS text lines and live online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days. To contact the hotline, call (888) 373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree or 233733. Deaf or hard of hearing or speech-impaired people can contact the hotline by dialing 711.
- The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) helps people who have been in forced prostitution, forced labor, and slave-like conditions by providing legal and social services. To request services or report tips regarding potential human trafficking cases, contact the toll-free, 24/7 hotline at (888) Key-2-FREE or (888) 539-2373.
- Journey Out provides comprehensive services and support to help victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. For assistance call (818) 988-4970 or email info@journeyout.org.
For more information about the Human Trafficking Community Training, contact Kerry McCormack, City of West Hollywood Event Services Coordinator, at (323) 848-6385 or at kmccormack@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY (323) 848-6496.
To register, visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NHNZ8sA_Q2G789u9pkMpKQ. A link to the Zoom event, including a call-in number for those unable to join online, will be emailed to participants prior to the event.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATORS
2021 TRAINING CONFERENCE
Join us as we host our 10th annual training conference September 8th-10th, 2021. This year we invite approved victim service providers to our list of attendees. The conference will offer plenary and breakout sessions for Investigators, Prosecutors, Crime Analysts, Victim Service Providers and other HT Practitioners.
To determine if you qualify send us an email 2021conference@iahti.org
Lodging Information
Here is the reservation link you can use to make hotel reservations:
Book your group rate for Fundamentals in Human Trafficking
If you have questions or need help with the link, please do not hesitate to contact the Sheraton Sand Key staff directly by calling 727-595-1611 and ask for in-house reservations.
Event Summary: 10th Annual Human Trafficking Conference
Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:Sheraton Sand Key Resort
for $124 USD per night
Venue address:
1160 Gulf Blvd
Clearwater, Florida 33767
2021 Conference course topics
The International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators will provide an advanced training conference for Investigators, Crime Analysts, Prosecutors and Victim Service Providers.
Course topics include:
- Survivor Presentations
- Legal trends and case law updates
- Human Trafficking Trends to include Familial Trafficking
- Vicarious trauma and self care for investigators
- Investigative process and operational planning
- Sex Trafficking case study
- Labor Trafficking case study
- Survivor, Investigator, Prosecutor and Victim Service provider panel
- Incorporating a survivor into an investigative team or Task Force
- Social Media Investigations
- Newest Technology in Human Trafficking Investigations
- Collaboration between Investigators and Victim Service Providers to better serve victims
- Building and Maintaining a successful Task Force
- Investigative and Forensic Interviews
- And More……
This 20-hour course is geared towards Human Trafficking Investigators, Prosecutors, Crime Analysts, DCF, DJJ, Victim Advocates and victim service providers affiliated with Law Enforcement. This training will be conducted by Human Trafficking Practitioners with real world case experience. The objective of this course is for attendees to increase their investigative skills pertaining to human trafficking investigations. In addition to the great training we offer two networking sessions for the attendees. This allows the attendees the opportunity to network with HT Practitioners from across the United States and Canada.
FIGHT CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING COURSE
Presented by ARC – May 31-June 4, 2021
ARE YOU TIRED OF JUST BEING AWARE OF THE PROBLEM?
THIS COURSE will EQUIP YOU to actually get involved.
You will gain knowledge and skills to combat sex trafficking effectively in the areas of prevention, intervention, rescue, advocacy or direct services to victims/survivors.
INSTRUCTORS:
BAZZEL BAZ: ARC Founder and President
TINA PAULSON: ARC Human Trafficking Program Director
STRATEGIC PARTNER INSTRUCTORS: Specialists with backgrounds in CIA, Military Special Operations, Law Enforcement and other distinguished fields
WE MUST protect the MOST VULNERABLE...our children. Threats to our children go undetected by most Americans, and the tactics of exploiters are cunning, sophisticated and well-disguised. With specialized expertise gained by ARC's operators and years of experience rescuing missing, exploited and trafficked American children/youth, learn what ARC can teach you about protecting them.
Training Course Schedule
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Registration deadline March 2, 2021
DURATION: 5 days, 8 hours per day (40 hours total)
DAYS: Tuesday-Saturday, April 20 - 24, 2021
HOURS: Daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Lunch break 12-1 pm)
LOCATION:
Courtyard By Marriott Rapid City, SD
580 Watiki Way
Box Elder, South Dakota 57719, US
Registration deadline April 1, 2021
DURATION: 5 days, 8 hours per day (40 hours total)
DAYS: Tuesday-Saturday, May 31-June 4, 2021
HOURS: Daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Lunch break 12-1 pm)
LOCATION:
Acton Academy Placer
725 Vernon St,
Roseville, CA 95678 (near Sacramento)
ASHEVILLE, NC
Registration deadline May 3, 2021
DURATION: 5 days from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
DAYS: Mon-Fri, June 14 - June 18, 2021
HOURS: Daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Lunch break 12-1 pm)
LOCATION:
Address TBD,
Asheville North Carolina
JACKSONVILLE, FL
Registration deadline June 7, 2021
DURATION: 5 days, 8 hours per day (40 hours total)
DAYS: Tuesday-Saturday, May 31-June 4, 2021
HOURS: Daily 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Lunch break 12-1 pm)
LOCATION:
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge
5530 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
These are direct quotes from ARC Comprehensive Training Course alumni. These are used by permission from their evaluation forms.
"As a trained investigator, I wasn’t sure what to expect and how beneficial this training would be. I recommend this course to anyone who truly wants to make a positive impact on the plague of child exploitation. The quality of instruction far exceeded anything I experienced in all of my training.”
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR, B.H.
“Exceedingly beyond my expectations, day 1 shifted my paradigm beyond awareness. This was my first exposure to anything like this other than awareness and some previous info from Vets 4 Child Rescue. I will leave here different than I arrived and more equipped. I will pray for you all. I am in NC and will do anything I can to help. Thank you.”
B. P., NORTH CAROLINA
“Tina Paulson and Bazzel Baz are the true heroes. They are inspirational teachers with real life experiences presented in a humble, yet soul shattering training. We all experienced a transformation down to the marrow. Those who know cannot sleep. Those who take this course are changed forever.”
ANONYMOUS ALUMNUS
"Life changing experience. My eyes are open to a world I didn’t know existed. ARC has equipped me to take action and connect with others and save the life of a child."
ANONYMOUS ALUMNUS
More Details Click Here
To Register, Click Here
Rotary Action Group Against Child Slavery
RAGAS Education/Prevention Breakout Session from 2020 Rotary International Conference
Check out recordings of the two Zoom breakout sessions held at the 2020 Rotary International Conference focusing on Education and Prevention of human trafficking. These are both great sessions focusing on learning more about the issue and how you can help.
RAGAS Education /Prevention - Bob Derring and Ashlie Bryant
For more information, please visit the RAGAS website here.
HOW TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE
FROM THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE:
During this pandemic, our children are spending more and more time online, putting them at higher risk for interacting with predators. The San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective is providing online training to teachers in order to continue their mission of bringing human trafficking education, prevention and awareness training into every public school in San Diego County.
To learn more, please click here.
Saving Innocence LAUNCHES CSEC ADVOCACY COURSE
The Role of Social Media and Internet Safety
Watch this free preview of our CSEC Advocacy Course, where Amber Davies, LCSW (Senior Director Of Clinical Programs, Saving Innocence) breaks down the role of social media in trafficking, and tips to review with youth for their safety.
SPY UPDATE
SPY UPDATE – April 23, 2020
Advocacy Opportunity: Helping the Homeless during COVID-19
At SPY, we’re so thrilled to be part of such a resilient and connected community. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received during these unpredictable times.
We’re thankful for our dedicated team members who are still working every day to provide life-saving support and essential services at SPY’s Access Center and across all of our residential programs.
We’re thankful for the swift action to prioritize the vulnerability of the homeless population in Los Angeles, providing handwashing stations and opening additional shelters to provide a safe space during this time of uncertainty.
We’re grateful for the policies that have already been enacted and actions that are already taking place to continue to protect and support our homeless neighbors. And, we’re extremely thankful that we can continue to move SPY’s mission forward. But we can’t fight this fight alone.
The street-based and at-risk youth we serve are at an increased risk of complications if they contract COVID-19. According to a report published by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Homeless individuals infected by COVID-19 would be twice as likely to be hospitalized, two to four times as likely to require critical care, and two to three times as likely to die than the general population.”
Housing Highlights
At SPY, we believe housing is an integral part of helping street-based youth find stability. We’re delighted by the projects, originally goals in our strategic plan, that have become realities over the past few months.
A Bridge Home Sunset
In February, in partnership with People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), SPY celebrated the opening of A Bridge Home Sunset in Venice (ABH). As a result, 54 transition-aged youth have been moving off of the streets and into their home. ABH will house residents for three to six months as they work with SPY staff to secure permanent supportive housing. While at ABH, residents are provided three nutritious meals a day and receive dedicated case management, education and employment support, and access to health and wellness care to help them transition from the streets and stabilize.
The Nest
The Nest, which opened in December 2019, is SPY’s housing program designed specifically for youth who are pregnant and/or parenting. The program has the capacity to host 8 to 10 parenting youth and their families for up to 36 months. Each resident has a dedicated case manager, together they focus on goals like finding housing, completing education, and improving life skills. Residents also receive targeted family services and parenting classes. We are thrilled to share that as of April 1, we have reached full capacity at The Nest!
A Furry Reunion
Marquise and his dog Cloud 9 have been unhoused in Venice and coming to SPYs Access Center for services since 2016. Marquise, a talented guitar player, participates in SPY's Healing Arts program and has worked closely with his Case Manager to plan his short and long term goals for stability. Through SPY's partnership with Project Minnie, Marquise is also able to provide excellent care for Cloud 9.
On the streets of Abbot Kinney, Marquise met Rick, a community member who immediately bonded with Marquise. Unfortunately in October 2019, LAPD removed Cloud 9 from Marquise's custody, leaving the two separated and Cloud 9 in an animal shelter.
In an effort to support Marquise reuniting with Cloud 9, Rick became Marquise's mentor through SPY's Mentorship Program, which matches volunteers to mentor youth on an individual basis. With Marquise's dedication, Rick's determination, and SPY's driven case management team providing advocacy in the courtroom and in the community, Marquise and Cloud 9 have finally been reunited! The two are now residing at SPY's bridge housing program, A Bridge Home Sunset, where we love seeing them together every day.
