Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches

History

The Human Trafficking Coalition started as a Human Trafficking Working Group through Florida Freedom Partnership in April 2004. This was an effort instituted by a grant from Department of Justice to train frontline responders in the community on identification of Human Trafficking victims and how to provide culturally appropriate services to victims of Human Trafficking in Palm Beach County. Soon-after, the community service providers in our area were so invested in the cause that they decided to continue the group which moved from a working group to a task force concentrating its efforts on educating the community through public awareness campaigns, by identifying legislation & promoting policies to assist victims of human trafficking and to prosecute traffickers. It also provided a network of individuals from all different disciplines and concentration areas to develop resources for victim assistance. There was a third transition that moved this task force to a coalition as the group was then opened up to additional members of the general community, concerned citizens, and other non-provider organizations that had in interest in reducing Human Trafficking in our community. We are happy to say that we currently have over 450 members on our email list and are still continuing the efforts this Coalition began with a small focus group in 2004!