Hi, welcome to the Commission on Human Trafficking.

Um board meeting today is um Thursday, July the twenty.

I don't even know what today's date is.

That's terrible.

Thank you.

July twenty third.

I'm sorry, I just walked out of a heavy meeting.

Um, July twenty third, so welcome to the commission on human trafficking.

And at this time I would like to call the meeting to order.

So Lisa, we have a determination of quorum.

And then I'll read my own comment.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Chair Rose.

Yes, ma'am.

Judge Costello or Judge Ward Commissioner Sopeda.

Member Gonzalez.

Member Aguilar.

Detective Scherer.

The Honorable Lisa McLean.

Here.

Thank you.

Member Klug.

Member Petrellac.

State Attorney's Office.

Ms.

Simon.

Here.

Thank you.

Member Halsey.

Here.

Detective Wood.

Here.

Thank you.

Detective Aguar.

Present.

Detective Kelly.

And our new member, Victim Services Representative, redefining refuge CEO, Natasha Nascimento.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, you have a quorum.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And welcome, Natasha.

Welcome.

Yes.

We're excited.

Thank you so much.

So now that we have our quorum, we are opening up to public comment, but please let me read this for a moment.

The Commission on Human Trafficking has established a period at each of its regular meetings to allow citizens to speak.

Anyone who wishes to speak virtually or in person during the meeting may do so by contacting the commission's administrator, whose contact information is on the commission's webpage on the county's website.

Hillsborough County.org.

The deadline for speakers to sign in is 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.

All speakers who wish to speak are required to provide their name, email address, and telephone number.

This information is being requested to facilitate the public comment process.

The chair will call in speakers by name and the order in which their requests to speak have been received.

Priorization on the first come first served basis, and all virtual speakers will be muted upon joining the meeting and will be unmuted after being recognized by the chair by name.

The commission respects the rights of citizens to express their options and concerns.

However, the commission requests that citizens present their concerns in a respectful manner to maintain a polite atmosphere where all individuals are respected.

You have up to three minutes are allowed for each speaker.

Comments should be directed to the whole commission and not individual members.

Public comment time is allotted to 15 minutes.

And at this time, I believe we have one individual for public comment.

So Jazz.

That is correct.

Thank you.

All right, good afternoon, everyone.

It's a pleasure to be here before you all today.

Um my name is Jaselyn Vasquez, and I'm the anti-trafficking team coordinator for One More Child.

Um, and I'm here today to ask whether the Commission on Human Trafficking would be interested in partnering with us to help plan the 2027 Hillsborough County Red Sand event.

Um, last year, in collaboration with Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Department of Children and Families, one more child help organize a 2026 Red Sand event, which was the first red sand event held in Hillsborough County.

Um it's part of a national awareness campaign that uses red sand as a visual representation of the individuals who fall through the cracks of our systems and participants pour red sand into the cracks of sidewalks to symbolize those whose vulnerabilities are often overlooked and to encourage our communities to recognize prevent and respond to human trafficking and exploitation.

Last year's event was a great success, and we were honored to have speakers from many of you who sit on the board today.

Um as we look ahead uh to 2027, we'd like to build on that momentum by expanding community involvement and increasing public awareness throughout Hillsborough County.

Our goal is to make next year's event even more impactful by engaging the Tampa Bay community.

We hope to hold the event in January 2027, which means the planning process will need to begin soon.

We would be grateful for the opportunity to partner with the commission once again to welcome any members who are interested in serving on the planning committee.

I want to thank you all for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have questions, all right.

Jess, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you so much.

And do we have anyone online by any chance that has just joined us for a public comment?

We do not we have someone online, but she'll be speaking um to one of the committee reports as part of the meeting.

Yes, absolutely.

Thank you, thank you so much.

So at this time, we're gonna review um approval of the minutes of the recap.

You have your minutes in your agenda packet.

And second.

Second.

All in favor.

All oppose.

Perfect.

Meetings approved from May.

Thank you so much.

And at this time we have our agency partners.

We do have guests that are with us today.

So I'm very excited to introduce uh Bishop Tony and Pastor Jeanette Samuels from the Lighthouse Freedom Center.

And I believe they're joining us all of all virtual.

Is that how they're coming?

Or I apologize.

Okay.

Thank you, Commission, for having us come.

My name is Bishop Tony Samuels, president of Lighthouse Gospel Mission and Faith Home, and we are an organization that's been serving the Tampa Bay community for over 70 years.

Our organization started off in downtown Tampa with our founder combating alcoholism in downtown Tampa.

Over the years it expanded, and now we're out in Riverview, Florida, and we have an 18-month men and women's program that's helping men and women come out of addiction.

Um fentanyl, crack, heroin, prescription drugs, uh you name it.

Um our organization is faith-based, and uh, we're seeing results of people being set free.

So you may be saying, how does this tie in with human trafficking?

Um, a lot of times in human trafficking, the traffickers use addiction to drugs to control their victims.

Um, so if we can be a part of that process of breaking the grip of addiction simultaneously, we break the grip of the human traffickers.

So we have a lot of individuals that come through our program and have a background, which we have somebody here with us that's in our program right now that came out of that background.

She's gonna share her testimony shortly.

Um so we're we're um seeing men and women uh set free and um coming out of that lifestyle, and um, and now that human trafficker that once had a grip on them has no control over their lives.

So we're uh excited to be a part of the solution and partner with you guys and be a resource to Hillsborough County and our other agencies.

I have brochures if you guys would like them.

We also have information.

Yeah, you guys can pass that around.

Uh we're in Riverview, Florida.

Uh our founder believed that um he's seen that if you don't get people out of the uh environment, it's easier for them to go back.

So that's why we're out in Riverview.

We're on about five uh acres of land out there and on this completely segregated um from uh bad neighborhoods, bad individuals, and auditing really focus on getting our lives right.

So we're excited to be here today.

Thank you.

Yeah, so we want to have Adriana come up and share her testimony real quick.

She came out of that background.

Hello, my name is Gadriana.

I'm 42 years old, and I grew up in a broken home.

Um we was exposed to a lot of different things.

Um those old early wounds um led me down a destructive path of addiction and sexual exploitation and trafficking.

For years I lived in bondage, moving from from one program to another, desperately searching for a way out, but never finding lasting freedom.

Every uh everything began to change when I entered created and um started searching for the truth.

Um I ended back out.

Um it didn't last.

Um, but a lady it created sent me to um to the lighthouse freedom center, um, the faith home.

And uh from there, um I received a solid foundation in God um and came to know who Jesus Christ is, not just the name I had heard about, but as my savior, redeemer, and but um delivering as my relationship with him grew, he began to um the healing and the bro uh healing the broken places in my heart, breaking the chains of addiction, shame and fear, and showing me my true identity as his daughter today.

My story is no longer defined by my past, but it's defined in God's grace.

One week ago, my mother passed away, and because of my now solid foundation, I was able to provide strength and peace, peace to be with her in our transition to heaven, and yes, heaven, because I was graced with the opportunity to lead her to salvation before she passed.

I'm walking in truth and peace with nothing but thanksgiving belonging to Jesus.

I was able to pray with her and and for my family.

What the enemy meant for evil got us turned it into a testimony of hope.

Freedom and restoration.

I stand here today because of Jesus.

Because Jesus changes lives.

He changed my, and he changed my mom's for eternity.

He rescued me, restored me, and gave me a new person.

I was out on Nebraska Avenue for eight years.

I did everything and anything to support myself and not get hurt in the process.

This program, the lighthouse, it saved my life.

It's taught me to have a relationship with Jesus and with God and not to look back, but to look forward to a hope and a future.

And I know he'll never leave me or forsake me because that's in his word.

So I'm just thankful for this program that saves many lives.

And I'm one of those lives that got saved through the faithful.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And Andrea, thank you.

Andrea.

Could you come up?

Do you mind?

Please.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I just want to really acknowledge you.

Thank you so much for your strength.

And uh condolences about your mom passing away last week.

So what it takes to walk in here today, it already would have taken a lot before your mom passing.

So coming in today, we are extremely proud of you.

We are honored that you're here with us today, and that you have shared your testimony with us.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart and the entire board.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And uh at this point, right?

We've all kind of collected ourselves.

And again, thank you so much, Lighthouse.

Um, Rob, would you please um our steering committee report?

Absolutely.

Thank you, sir.

Uh your steering committee met on June 25th.

Uh a quorum was achieved and maintained throughout the meeting.

Uh, primary actions uh by the committee include uh survivor ventures provided an overview of their survivor-led trafficking response service model that includes housing and rental assistance, employment, economic empowerment, and entrepreneurship.

They shared that their programmatic outcomes included 80% employment retention and 92% housing uh stability.

Uh the committee also worked on their strategic plan.

Uh they reviewed and edited their strategic plan.

They discussed, I'm sorry, discussion ensued about keeping specially court items on the plan or offering future support to the court, state attorney, and public defender's office if the concept were to move forward.

Uh the committee also reviewed a presentation by Dandelion Project.

Uh Clara Reynolds from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay arranged for the committee to receive a presentation on the Jacksonville dandelion project, which is a survivor-informed uh multi-agency human trafficking response centered around the Jacksonville Everbank Jaguar Stadium and the surrounding entertainment district.

Uh the initiative includes awareness, enforcement, education, and an outreach component.

Uh the committee also uh reviewed their budget and funding uh status.

Uh specifically, the committee reviewed commission-related expenditures to date available funding and discussed potential human trafficking projects that could be implemented by the end of the county's fiscal year, including demand reduction and service projects, training, uh, and events.

Uh there's discussion about project tracking, specifically the committee received updates on current projects, committee project leads, and also discussed the need for more co-leads on those projects.

Uh the committee also discussed the desire to plan and execute a community awareness event and or town hall uh before the end of the fiscal year.

Uh the committee discussed the status of the semi-annual human trafficking report, which is uh was scheduled to be delivered to the Board of County Commissioners on July 15th.

Uh members provided a vote of confidence for Chair Rose and requested that any members that were available attend that presentation.

And I'm happy to report that Chair Rose did an outstanding job uh delivering that report, and we had several commission members supporting her in that effort.

Uh there was also discussion regarding the current status of the marketing and social media campaign with FKQ.

Staff reported that FKQ encountered challenges purchasing ad time on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram due to issues with Meta, resulting in an on spEP funds originally allocated for digital advertising.

To address this, FKQ shifted 250 dollars and reallocated it to cover website hosting costs for the Don't Buy It Tampa Bay campaign, supporting the completion of the campaign's landing page and ensuring continued online presence.

There's also discussion regarding the vast number of projects that the commission is working on.

And the committee approved up to $5,000 for evaluation and possible purchase of project management software for Ms.

Montreleon to better manage and track those numerous numerous simultaneous projects.

The committee received an update on the emergency phone program through the crisis center and subsequently approved $2,000 for additional phones and SIM cards for the Crisis Center.

Discussion ensued regarding training funds.

And they discussed options for allocating $20,000 for community training.

And there would be further discussion at today's meeting about that.

And then as far as next steps, Ms.

Montreleon was asked to perform due diligence on training options, planning for a community event, and strategic plan edits to be finalized in today's meeting.

And that concludes the overview.

Thank you, Rob.

Thank you for your report for the steering committee.

And at this time, our marketing subcommittee.

Alex, you're going to give us a report?

I will.

Thank you so much.

Sure.

Before I start, my my apologies to your ears.

My allergies are acting up and my throat is a bit scratchy.

And my usual voluminous voice has been really catastrophically reduced.

So bear with me.

We did meet on uh July 6th for a media and marketing ad hoc committee subcommittee meeting.

Uh we from 30,000 feet, I'll give you the overview, discuss the social media uh paid ads issue that Rob just uh referred to, and uh to which we'll have a recommendation for the full um full uh committee here.

Um we then discussed uh media guidelines, both in terms of what best practices might look like and also accountability metrics, particularly what we're going through currently in this current economic environment.

We wanted to make sure uh that anything that we do media-wise, impression-wise and results-wise, is really accountable and transparent.

So we discussed that, and that just resulted in tasks, not a recommendation.

Uh, and then we talked a little bit about branding, uh, specifically uh the COHT co-branding with the county, and whether uh that would be permissible under what circumstances.

Uh, and then of course, we discussed uh very briefly the friends of the COHT project.

Uh we spent most of our time uh on the social media paid ads issue, and uh luckily for like I said, your ears and my voice, uh Alyssa uh is on online with FKQ to fill in will no doubt be uh sizable gaps in what I tell you.

Um, but since about April, the uh campaign has been disabled.

Uh we've taken it down or we've stopped it after just a short test run, primarily because we detected or FKQ detected that the uh comments could not be disabled, and we did not want to have a comments back and forth.

Uh the intent of the uh ads is to be educational and awareness, not to really develop a conversation, and we were concerned that it wouldn't uh it would not work that way.

Um after numerous, and and Lisa can uh Elisa can come into this anytime she likes, but after numerous attempts to escalate all the way through Meta, and by the grace of God somehow they actually spoke to human beings, uh, but it got to a level of impedance where it just wasn't going to change.

Uh, evidently disabling comments is something that is only allowed for uh pharmaceutical companies and uh pharma in general.

Uh no particular reason why, but uh they took it as far as they could, and it did not seem like there was going to be any kind of policy change within made uh meta to accommodate us.

Uh and uh so alternatives to how to spend uh that money in the event that we did not want to proceed were discussed, and just very briefly uh we did discuss uh perhaps allowing some influencers to try to run with the account uh and try to develop uh some following for us.

We also discussed uh the idea of maybe channeling some of the money to grocery or a grocery store, pardon me, uh gas station, uh TV channels.

You walk in, you see these things at the grocery store, et cetera.

Our concern uh after discussion was the impressions just wouldn't be there.

It would be a very select and narrow market.

We're concerned about losing uh market share, if you will.

We were concerned about losing the number of impressions in our outreach.

Um and so uh we rapidly got back to the idea of what was the downfall or back, is there any kind of real negative effect on just continuing the ad campaign as it was designated?

And after a lot of conversation, it just does not appear that the risk is that big.

Uh there would be opportunities for us to do uh some monitoring of the account ourselves to make sure that the comments, if there were any could be um could be discussed or could be addressed, but more importantly, we would like to pin uh some messages to the ads so that people would know that it's not a monitored site and that the comments are or not interactive, and uh that they should just essentially take what's read and proceed with it.

Umys, am I hitting the major points of that conversation, or do you want to add anything at this point?

Yes, thank you so much.

Um, and thank you to the committee.

Um I think you've outlined it.

Um exactly.

We did feel that initially we had agreed that we would disable the comments so that if anyone was reaching out for help um and we weren't monitoring the page, that that would not become a risk.

The ads in and of themselves are communicating how to um connect with resources for help, where to where to call, where to go.

So um we feel that the risk is really being managed, and we would are just asking for the committee's approval to relaunch the paid advertising and um run the campaign as it was initially approved, um, knowing that uh we will just need to handle the comments differently than when we had initially discussed.

Perfect.

And uh I think that uh I'll read this if I can find it.

Um I believe that the recommendation is that um to to the full uh uh commission here that we uh go ahead and proceed with the campaign as it was originally initiated and uh and go ahead and and try to get as much of the campaign in by the end of the budget year as is humanly possible.

Um did I misspeak on that at all.

I'm not I I'm I'm guessing you're directing that question to me.

Um I'm not exactly clear, nor if I can say comfortable with having something where comments could be made, and then we don't respond.

And I have been on the Facebook page.

There is a banner that says if this page is not monitored, if you need immediate help, dial 911, it is there, it is pinned to the top, it's easily visible.

Umb up before that if people do make comments, it's gonna require diligence to remove the comments that are inappropriate, as you can imagine could be made on a page like this, um, and to respond if if someone by chance doesn't see the big orange sign that says this page is not monitored, uh, reaches out for help.

How how you know dialogue would go?

It's just it causes a lot of I think issues and a and a lot of exposure.

Um so keeping it locked down, uh, where you know, we can post, but um an FKQ can post, but not to have a two-way, you know, have this be a two-way communication tool.

Um, if anyone wants to get in touch with the commission, the web page is out there.

My contact information is on the web page, um, and certainly um anyone savvy on the internet can find how to get in touch with us.

The partners sitting around the table all have their own social media, they all have their own outreach and contact.

So I think that part of it is covered.

Uh and and maybe at the steering committee or in the marketing committee, more discussion can be have of had about what the objective is with having the social media accounts.

And and while we're on the topic, anyone around the table, I've invited as many people to like the page as possible.

Please go in.

It's don't buy it, Tampa Bay, the Facebook page and the Instagram account.

Like it, share it.

Um, I put the video from your delivery of the semi-annual report on there uh a couple of days ago.

So um it is an outlet for you to amplify the message of the work that this commission does.

And any things that come up, I I try and post free trainings and things like that is as often as I can.

And Lisa, you've done a great job because I was I reposted from the board meeting, and I was like, wow, this looks great.

So be talking about social media a little while.

Yeah, I know, I know, but thank you.

Thank you, because I know you have a lot on your plate, and we don't have a secretary.

So it all falls back on Lisa.

So again, um thank you.

And if you haven't had a chance to check out our Facebook page, I'm gonna tell you it is phenomenal.

And there's a lot of great information.

Um sharing, like I'm allowed to share because I'm an admin.

What about our folks that are on the board?

Can I also allowed to share?

Perfect.

Um it's who can post.

So I can post, you can post, the vice chair can post, an FKQ can post to the page itself.

Right.

Elisa really want to say something.

About here, just to just to interject, because I think what's going on on the page right now is wonderful, and it's exactly the kind of community that we wanted to try to create on the page.

So thank you, everyone, for um you know being engaged there.

There is a way to disengage comments from an organic post, which is what the team has been posting, they are organic.

What FKQ has a budget towards and what where we are going to get those impressions towards our awareness and our goals is by running a paid meta campaign.

We have not tested running the paid meta campaign, so we we do not know if people will make comments or not currently on the organic post.

We're not seeing um many comments, so it really does make us feel confident that they're the nature of the communication is not asking for commentary, it isn't looking for engagement, it is really telling them where to communicate where to um report activity, and that place is not on Facebook.

Um, so I think it was just specifically towards and maybe it's just that the committee feels comfortable with us running a test.

We could run a test for a week or a few days of the paid ads to see if there is any negative commentary or anything that we're not happy with.

Um, but it was really the the paid portion of the campaign that we were wanting to focus on getting up and running.

Thank you.

Thank you, Alex.

Any more to your report?

Any additions?

Well, just uh I I think the summary of that was uh and I'll just read this from the notes from the meeting that after discussion led by Vice Chair Groover Skipper, the administrator, member Petrolak and member detective English, the committee agreed to recommend proceeding with paid ads on social media using strategies like pending disclaimers and automated messaging to address concerns about unmonitored comments, while noting that formal approval must occur at the next board meeting.

Um we discussed the risk mitigation strategies in this now, and there will be a request uh for quantifiable metrics for the campaign success.

It'll probably take 60 days to have enough time to really digest that, but that's the intent again to be fully accountable.

Um I think that's pretty much the everything I have for social media.

Um just very briefly.

Uh, we did discuss media guidelines.

Uh, some templates were provided for best practices and media.

We didn't discuss it in depth.

It was suggested that we go back and read those and and as a committee come back and come up with our best practices.

Uh, there will be a request for various metrics against budget.

Um, those are TBD, uh, but that will be in work.

And as far as branding goes, and perhaps Lisa, you'll help a little bit in this part of the conversation.

We did discuss uh the opportunity for co-branding uh with the county.

Um the difficulty with that is is that your branding uh uh standards uh don't really allow for uh groups like ours to be uh branded directly in the past.

Um evidently there was some attempt at the co-branding, but it was not through the channels that are typically permissible, and so um I guess it would be it was out of outside the norm as an alternative to that kind of co-branding.

We do discuss very briefly the opportunity to do a friend of the uh of the COHT type of approach that would help us with events and and other matters, and that's also um an additional task to be um developed over time.

I think that covers just about everything.

Um yes, and if I may uh as you mentioned, the moving forward with the paid ad campaign would require a vote of this body to move forward.

Do we have a dollar amount?

I know we discussed it previously.

Elisa, can you run the number?

Yeah, we went we went back um and evaluated everything else is running, so great news.

The campaign is definitely up and running.

We're really only um speaking to the social, the paid social.

And right now we have 20,492 dollars and 17 cents available for activating that channel.

Um if the committee um does not approve uh the social, we would look to reinvest those funds in another channel, as um Alex had mentioned, possibly the gas station TV or the grocery store TV or another channel where we're getting that type of you know impression level.

Um I know there was strong desire from Dottie who couldn't be here today to um really activate within social media.

So I just want to be clear.

So we have 20,417 budgeted.

20,492 and 17 cents allocated.

Perfect, thank you.

So at this time, I'd like to open it up for conversation, discussion.

We have 20,492 and 70 cents for our paid social media ads.

And then we've also talked about other avenues.

Natasha?

Um, I have a question for Elisa.

The paid ads versus the boosting of a post.

So you're still paying when you boost a post, but you do have the ability when you boost a post to disable the comments.

So is that something that we've considered?

We have tested that, and unfortunately, Meta has changed their um policy, and we were unable to disable the comments even on a boosted post.

That is kind of how we ended up back to you today.

Did they just curiously, did they give a reason?

Because on our specific page, uh, my organization specifically, it's not we used we still have that feature, so we can boost a post and disable the comments on a boosted post.

So did they give sort of how is the account set up?

What we were told is because it was my understanding, and I'm not the technical expert here, but um, because it was a new page, and this you might have been grandfathered into that um option.

Um, but Aubrey, feel free to jump in.

I know you were involved in speaking with the meta rep.

We've escalated this issue all the way up to our meta rep and they're aware that we're trying to disable the comments um on a boosted or paid campaign.

Um, and we just kind of hit a a wall with them.

Um, but they tried to escalate it up the ladder, so in the future they might come back.

It'd be I'm interested to know what how your page is set up, however, um, to see if we could go down a similar avenue.

We um just didn't have the ability um with our rep with our meta rep.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Natasha.

Additional additional comments, questions, allocation, etc.

The yes.

The automatic messaging you were referring to.

Is that something that happens after someone posts?

Is that like a response to a post?

So I'm gonna option if someone you know they see our ad, they post a comment.

Um, there is an automated uh response that would direct message them, so it would end up in their messages section.

Um, and that message could you know reinforce this page is not monitored, please you know, go here to find resources, dial this, etc.

Um, they would just need to have their direct messages enabled and you know be able to go in there and look for that.

But that is uh an option.

Okay, and have we developed a response?

Um we have only developed a response as it is pinned to the top of the page, and it was more of a graphic response, so we would just need to communicate that in more of a text form.

Um if you recall the uh look of the ads, you know, the nature of them is directing where to report activity.

Um which is a little bit of a safeguard as well.

Thank you.

So from what I'm hearing is you've pretty much covered every base that you could cover, it would be great to have a conversation with Natasha from Reading Finding Refuge, how they're able to go into the back end and run their Facebook ads, boost, etc.

Um, so if we could possibly um either have you join the next FKQ meeting, the marketing team and with Alex and everyone, that would be phenomenal if you would like to do that.

That would be great, and then you could be really involved and help push this along because we're kind of all in the dark.

Just meaning we don't have an understanding of Meta, and you have a great understanding.

Um of that.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Natasha.

So again, we're back on on to the conversation.

We have you know 20,492 going to a specific um social media.

Do we want to have a conversation of splitting it up or Lisa for us to give them some options so that they don't have to keep coming back to us for approval?

Right.

So the FKQ dollars is under contract.

So they have within their budget that was already approved by not only this board, but the board of county commissioners.

So the 20,000 492 17 is part of the money that's already approved.

What's being asked is for this body to yay or nay, up or down to pursue the ads.

And if it's a no, we don't want to pursue the ads, then they can take that money and invest it in another marketing strategy through another channel as industry speak has it.

Right.

Um so really it's the decision is do you want to do the ads or not?

Just to simplify it.

If you do, they'll spend any amount up to the 20,000 and change they have.

If you don't, they'll take that money and move it elsewhere.

And and I don't, I'm trying to show you.

I don't know if you can all see, maybe you can see in the monitors.

Um, except for the closed captioning.

I was gonna say closed caption is anyway.

So um that's what the top looks like where it has, you know, this page is not monitored.

Do you need help?

Call 911.

So that's that's uh what the vote is for is yay or nay, do ads, don't do ads.

Thank you, Lisa.

Alex?

Yeah, I just had a question, at least.

I I'm sure you mentioned this and I've forgotten.

Uh if we were to go with an alternative uh beside the uh ads, which I don't believe I would favor, but if we did do the uh grocery or uh gas station TV, uh how long would that take to implement and would we be able to do that within this budget year and have any kind of reasonable uh impressions in this year?

Um we would be able to shift those funds to um another um partner quite quickly um since the ad set is already um developed.

So um no worries on on timing.

We would um look to run that within the fiscal since we're already getting close.

It there might be some impressions that would roll over, but um yes, we we could still shift it, and that's kind of why today's you know a little bit critical, just if we do want to make sure those impressions are hitting within this fiscal year.

Oh no, go right ahead.

Um just put the other off the other those are the two discussed at the meeting that we're presented by FKQ.

Um, but perhaps Elisa, is there anything else that perhaps we would have uh beside the grocery store and a gas station ads?

Yes, we would um probably revisit some of the channels that we're already running in.

Um since we have negotiated um deals kind of already with them and see if they could extend those campaigns or um you know just build more impressions within them.

Um so that's would be you know, we have outdoor running with clear channel, we have bus sites running with heart, we have ads running in the airport, and we have our carvertized cars, our ride share cars, and all retell me if I miss anything.

Um just the outdoor billboards, yeah.

And I apologize, I'm just not sure if this answer is this for demand reduction, or is this to direct people to resources or both?

This is to direct them to our Facebook page, which then redirects them to resources, so specifically for the Facebook page to grow the social media.

Our social media, Instagram and Facebook.

Okay, it's yeah, specifically to reach people who may be targeted or victimized within a social media environment.

Any additional conversation?

It's not conversation, but could I make a motion?

You have some okay.

Being a part of all the steering committees and the conversation with the media stuff going on, I would file a motion to go ahead and move forward with the paid ads.

I'll oppose motion passed.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, everyone.

Thank you, um, FKQ for always being there answering our questions and the incredible work that you do for us.

We're extremely extremely appreciative.

And I do want to clarify, I did misspeak.

It doesn't say call 911.

It says this page is not monitored.

Dial 211 if you need immediate help.

If you suspect human trafficking, text city tip to 84741, which is uh the number monitored, the text line monitored by the Tampa Police Department.

Um, and it also says visit Crisis Center.com for additional resources.

And as you all know, the crisis center is our designated uh provider.

Perfect, thank you, Lisa.

And I like I like that it has those two different numbers that they can call and receive resources and a multitude of resources, not just resources uh directed uh totally to human trafficking.

So thank you very much.

Alex, I think your allergies are coming over this way.

So I do apologize.

All right, at this time I just uh would like to discuss about the strategic plan.

You know, we went um and did this back in March is to take us to 2030.

We've had a couple of different meetings with the review committee.

Again, if you like to join us on any committee, you are always welcomed.

So please, the more the merrier, we'd love that.

And I just want to let you know that we have met and we are putting together two additional meetings that are coming up for August and September.

We're trying to pre-plan our meetings because we all have some busy lives, right?

And the committee, we are conducting a very comprehensive review of the strategic plan.

And it is including terminology updates, consolidating goals and strategies were appropriate, refining language to provide greater flexibility and identifying policy issues that require additional discussion before recommendations are finalized.

Once the committee completes its review, the revised strategic plan will be presented to the steering committee for endorsements before being brought to the full commission for review and approval, and as a reminder that all comments and suggested edits should continue to be submitted through uh Lisa, our liaison administrator, and to ensure Sunshine Law compliance.

And I do want to say first I want to thank everyone that is on the committee.

I also want to thank everyone that came when we did our strategic planning meeting.

And while I'm on thank yous, I also want to thank everyone for all your incredible support for the BOCC meeting when we presented our semi-annual report.

So those of you that could come in person and speak, thank you.

Those of you that could come in person and be there but couldn't because you know, restrictions with your position, thank you.

And those of you that came for support, again, thank you, because that really shows the commissioners we are serious, we are here, and we really believe in what we're doing, as well as maybe expressing some beautiful comments during public comment.

But I wanted to make sure I thanked everyone for that.

The reason if you're thinking wondering why are we having these different meetings and it's taking a little bit longer to go through the strategic plan?

Remember, it's 42030.

We've really done a great job collectively as a commission on human trafficking board of what our needs are, what our gaps are.

And so we're being very hyper-viligant going through the strategic plan to do our best to really look at what those gaps are, how can we fill those gaps?

Looking in today's world and then trying to figure out and understand what is the future going to even look like in 2030, completely different than it.

I almost feel like I'm like the the Jetsons, you know.

It's kind of like what's it gonna look like in the future?

Um, but again, you know, we are being very diligent on this uh because it sets the tone and it sets our path forward, and that's the reason you know that we went and did our strategic plan.

So that is my update.

And does anyone have any questions, comments, etc.?

Thank you very much.

And we're gonna go ahead and move over to the staff report.

So Lisa Thank you, madam chair.

Um, if I can direct everybody's attention to the budget document, it is the second to last page in your packet.

You see, I'm a fan of colors.

I'm a visual person.

It keeps me organized.

The what I want to discuss with you today is at the bottom of the page.

The items in blue, the highlighted blue area, are the training for government employees slash businesses, the community event, and the town hall.

I am pleased to report that the community event and town hall have been combined, and that they will cross fingers and everything works out.

Thank you to the Hotel Lodging Association.

Thank you to someone who's not here today, but Santiago and Joelin Loki from Visit Tippa Bay.

But we have secured a hotel venue.

It's in Ybor City that is going to host the meeting at no charge for the venue.

The details are still work being worked out for food and logistics and all that kind of thing.

And that dates that are being considered are September 16th or 17th.

So more information will be forthcoming on that.

So that expenditure is in process.

And looks like we will have animal control and our code enforcement officers go through that training.

It will be in person and it will also be in September.

Where, when, and who will be conducting the training will be after it runs through the procurement process, so I still don't know.

Hopefully, mid-August, if everything goes as planned, we will know about that.

I do want to uh read into the record some comments that uh the vice chair had provided in writing to me to be read into the record on the different budget requests.

Um she apologizes for her absence, however, she is participating in the Florida Massage Board hearings under staff report.

Her remarks again, thank you to Jolyn Loki.

Uh she has disclosed it is hotel floor that is providing the venue and donating the space.

So thank you to them as well.

Uh I already said the potential dates, September 16th or 17th.

Regarding county employee training.

I understand this is currently in the procurement process, and I fully support training for as many public-facing employees as can be accommodated, and look forward to hearing more about this procurement as it progresses.

Funding requests.

Um, as you saw in your packets, there is a funding request for Seminole Heights Community Clinic.

Her remarks are it is to my understanding that the Seminole Heights Community Clinic is a project of, and I apologize for my mispronunciation of Spanish words.

Minister Ministerio Mujeres Restoradas Por Dios, led by Nancy Hernandez.

I am in support of financially assisting.

I am in support of financially assisting this initiative.

I would like to have a trauma competence system in place to track the victims of human trafficking that utilize their services.

Hernandez back to this body to report on how many human trafficking victims were served through the providing provided funding once the clinic has seen a fair amount of patients.

The last remark I'll save until we uh talk, we get to that item in the budget.

So does anybody have questions on the training or on the community town hall event?

No?

Great.

Um, if you do have a question that comes to you afterwards, feel free to reach out.

Most of you have my cell phone number, you all know how to contact me by email.

Um the Seminole Heights Community Clinic will require uh a vote, uh, discussion and possible action by this board.

So you were provided with the um the statement of need from the organization.

They are asking for just under 10,000 to fill a gap in getting the clinic up and running.

And if you were here at the last board meeting in May, you heard personally, or if you reviewed the video, watched the meeting.

Um you heard the the um report or the presentation by Ms.

Hernandez uh about the work that she does and about the clinic that they are embarking on.

Any questions?

I believe they're taking a moment to review the documents.

I know I have an aversion to dead air on the I know you do, I know you do, and I don't want to, and then people are trying to concentrate and you talk and you can't concentrate.

Um I I do have a question.

So as as you are reading through this as vice chair wrote as vice chair um skipper River Skipper mentioned about having some kind of accountability built in, some kind of systems built in so that we really can see how many human trafficking survivors, victims that they do serve, because that is not their primary, right?

We understand that is not their primary, and this is about opening up a clinic, and when's the clinic going to be open up?

Um so it is also going to be in this fiscal year that the money can all be used as it needs to be used.

So maybe that's my first question.

Yeah, the funding would be provided this fiscal year.

The clinic as I understand it is underway.

Uh not to disparage any permitting department of any jurisdiction, but when you are opening uh a new establishment of any kind, permitting can be uh lengthy process.

So there's not a requirement for the clinic to be open by September 30th, which is the end of our fiscal year.

Um the funding would be provided before September 30th, um, the end of the fiscal year, so that they could continue uh work on opening the clinic.

And from what I understand, the location on Nebraska Avenue uh does see a fair amount.

Um, and Ms.

Hernandez actually spoke about the number um uh of uh potential human trafficking victims visit the clinic and the reasons why they do so.

And I I not to put any spotlight on Ms.

Gonzalez, but she did ask Ms.

Hernandez some questions I think in that regard last in May.

It's been a moment.

Any more discussion?

Yes, I'll make a motion to approve the funds.

All in favor, all oppose motion is passed.

Thank you very much, members.

Um, the final funding request that we have received is in support of an initiative that is consistent with this commission on human trafficking strategic plan and some departmental initiatives that are in progress.

I will also make a motion to approve those funds in the amount of two thousand dollars.

Thank you.

So um we have a motion and a second, but I do want to say something about the remaining funds in the budget.

At the very bottom in yellow, you see a number, it's two thousand two hundred and ninety-four dollars and fifty-one cents.

That is inclusive of the two things that you um just heard about, the one that's on the table, and the committed funds that are in the middle of the page.

There is a possibility that the funds that have been committed will not fully be expended, and that's because of sometimes red tape with some of our suppliers, some of our vendors.

Um, it's possible that there's going to be more than the 2029 four fifty-one available.

So if I may ask uh Detective Aguar, if you can give uh uh amend that motion to be a not to exceed five thousand dollars, then we can spend whatever is left in the budget on that initiative.

I will make a motion to approve the funding up to not exceeding $5,000.

All in favor?

Aye.

All oppose.

Motion passed.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

That's great.

Okay.

That's wonderful.

And I think that this will be the first year that the Commission on Human Trafficking has nearly fully expended their budget.

That was graciously given to the commission by the Board of County Commissioners.

And you know, now that we're nearing the end of the fiscal year, I can testify to it.

Heather can testify to it, Rob can testify to it, that you've been able to help many, many, many people.

I'm sure all law enforcement can say the same thing because a lot of these initiatives unfortunately start with law enforcement, right?

They're the first ones interacting with uh a lot of the individuals as well as in partnership with the the folks who sit around this table and do this work every day.

So I just want to thank you to all of you for your patience, your help, and and the work that you do to all of our partners, whether you're in the field or not.

Um I don't know if Heather wants to say something about the children's network.

I can just give a brief update.

Um good afternoon, everyone.

Heather Cazola, Hillsborough County Children's Services, and so as part of my accounting position, I'm overseeing the children's network contract that you guys allotted to them this year.

Um they have as of June they've invoiced half of their allotted funds, a little over half, so $50,303.

Um so right now we've still got July, August, and September, and they have $50,196.

Um, they have a big portion, another 20,400 in training, so they've spent half their money in training, so they still have a very large amount in training.

Um, and we have kind of worked through some of the areas to ensure that there are no barriers to the youth stipends to be able to use and use to be able to support those kids in activities that are going to be very pro-social and supportive activities for them to grow and uh work with the providers that are working with them.

Um they have their new advertising and marketing.

I'm very excited, we'll get that sent out.

It is final their um new videos that they have.

If you guys have not gone to the Children's Network website to see their um human trafficking awareness and recruitment for foster parents videos, it's really great.

They're like two-minute snippets, and they really talk about the need for foster parents to work with that population that's very vulnerable.

Um, and so they have new ones that are getting ready to launch, but they just sent that over to us.

So we'll have a marketing report that'll be able to come back to the board.

But um, any questions?

All right, thank you guys very much.

Thank you, Heather.

Um also while we're under committed funds, I can report that at the last Board of County Commissioners meeting, the one that you spoke at, Chair Rose and gave the the semi-annual report.

The uh one more child loft 181 contract was approved at to be amended that Rob's uh department carried through.

So thank you, Rob, for doing that.

And the outreach and engagement for hotels, motels, and 24-hour restaurants is still in process.

Um, it has gone to the next phase in procurement just this week.

So hopefully that funding will be approved, and I can uh release the funds for that engagement.

It because of the timing and nature of it, the recruitment for volunteers has already gone out and it is out on Eventbrite.

I saw it come through the free network, um, and we'll send it um out to others as well and partners so everyone is aware.

Um, but funding is still in process, so you know it's a journey.

Um the other things I just want to mention briefly.

Uh there is a training tomorrow that is a partnership between the crisis center, the office of the attorney general, uh, the Spring of Tampa Bay USF College of Public Health, and the James and Jennifer Harrell Center on understanding human trafficking and domestic violence.

It is a Zoom meeting.

It is 10 to 12 tomorrow, July 24th.

I'll do my best to get this out to people.

If I haven't already, I don't recall if I sent that one out.

Rob has graciously invited me to attend the domestic the Florida domestic violence collaborative meetings so that we have a more collaborative relationship and can work together on projects.

One of those will be updating all of the signage in the county facilities.

I've already spoken with facilities, and they have graciously said that they will take care of updating the signs as soon as I get them the graphics.

I do also want to mention that we have another new face around the table.

Juliana, if you'd like to uh introduce yourself.

Sure.

Good afternoon.

It's cool, Yana.

Thank you.

I actually come from I'm a project manager with the healthcare services, and I'm going to participate and I'm looking forward to be part of this committee.

I mean, commission for sure.

Thank you.

And that concludes my report.

Oh, I did want to say that I said I'd hold this remark from Vice Chair Groovy Skipper until after the vote, but she uh is in support of the uh recommendation of not to exceed $5,000.

She said two to five thousand.

Um, so she was in line with what was made to be directed towards specialized law enforcement initiatives that seek, find, and recover victims of human trafficking.

Um, and that um leads me to another uh email that I received.

I will share this information with our agency partners.

Uh it is from the Department of Children and Families that Heather works so closely with, and they have a lot of a lot of courses that are online that are free for agency partners.

They're not so much open to the general public.

Uh, but there's one that caught my eye because it's a subject that I haven't seen a lot of trainings on, and that is disability and vulnerable population trainings, and one of them is human trafficking and persons with disabilities.

That's not a topic that I've heard a lot uh about or discussed very often.

So I think that might be a unique training that uh some of our agency partners might want to add to their curriculum.

And that is a phenomenal training that DCF puts out.

And Lisa, you did send it out, and thank you.

I only had a moment to look at it very quickly, but you did, and I was like, oh, look at some of these trainings, they're like they're phenomenal.

And going back, Natasha, I think going back about 10 years.

I I'm sorry to say, we were really very much engaged in learning about and training for folks with disabilities, whatever that disability would look like.

Um yeah, and then we've kind of really dropped off from the conversation in the forefront.

But behind the scenes, please know that behind the scenes there's a lot of legislation that is being passed or has passed.

There's been accommodations that have been put into place.

There are some organizations that are moving towards working very specifically in that area.

But again, yes, thank you, Lisa, because it would be phenomenal for all of us to be a little bit more updated.

You're very welcome, and I'll send it out again just so that it's top of mind for folks.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I have a question about sharing for the Hotel Motel initiative.

Um, because of the way that it hasn't gone through procurement yet, so sharing it from the commission on human trafficking, it would be better to do it personal at this level until we've gone through you can you can do both because as it's worded, um, I worked very closely as Misty is shaking her head.

I've worked very closely with the organizations who are uh who are hosting or uh leading the event to say that it is supported by Hillsborough County and the Commission on Human Trafficking.

It doesn't mention funding.

So you've talked about it, you've participated, you've you know worked out details, you you have driven very deeply into this event.

So I I thought I was safe in saying supported by.

So I I think you could go ahead and uh if I get in trouble, certainly you will find out.

Well, because what I read through the event, Bright, it and Misty, you can speak to this, so go ahead.

I think what you're elaborating or leading to is we did remove the supported by the commission on human trafficking because it was our understanding until it went through procurement.

We needed to leave that off.

But once and if it is approved, then we could go in and add that language back on.

I do have one other exciting update I'd love to share with the board is Lisa and I had been talking about how do we get this information to the Tip Lab and Bright project to be able to do some data tracking on the effectiveness and the Bright Lab in a very quick amount of time.

They've given us a QR code that will now be on the clings that go in the public bathroom.

So they will actually get impressions for anybody that clicks on those links, and um they're doing a different code for the 24-hour restaurants than the one for the hotels and motels.

So it should give us some great data back, and we'll just continue those conversations.

They are willing to track data from past hotel motel soap outreaches that the SOAP project has done to begin to really track that data as well for us.

So I was excited that they were on board and willing to partner with us to actually try and figure out the effectiveness of the outreaches for us as a group.

Misty, that's phenomenal.

I love the partnership and the corrupted collaboration and bringing Bright into this, and we're always talking about data collection, and we don't always have enough data.

So thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

And also thank you for the clarification of once it goes through procurement, we could then say partnering with.

So I sent one out yesterday, okay, just and on Facebook.

And I really just kept it very generic the way that you have it.

Um, something about yeah, it's about Sailor Freedom and with the hotel motel, and that's in support of there.

So thank you.

Thank you.

And we'll let you know as soon as you can roll it out, you know, that it's from the commission.

But please, by all means, you can start getting the uh the word out because it's 150 total.

Misty volunteers.

We're looking for 150 volunteers.

So if any of you that are on the board want to come out and join us, please do.

Um, I would recommend carpaling or coming really early because I've been advised there's another large community event going on this weekend.

So for parking, please come early or carpool.

But if you are interested, please come out and join us.

And do you want to mention who is hosting the breakfast and the yes, I would love to.

Um the Hillsborough County Hotel Lodging Association, along with sure.

I'm gonna drop it now.

Embassy suites downtown.

Thank you.

Downtown Tampa, yes.

They are the ones actually hosting it and providing the breakfast.

They've been instrumental, they have provided lodging to our survivor and her husband that are coming in to conduct the track the training and the outreach.

So we're very grateful for them doing all that.

Definitely save the commission a lot of money by being able to have the venue donated, the breakfast and the lodging for Teresa Flores and her husband.

Thank you.

And again, partnership, it's like I'm loving this, the way everything's coming together and everyone's partnering together and et cetera.

And by the way, you can park around Ybor City and grab the trolley and take the trolley into downtown.

That is an incredible alternative.

Visit Tampa Bay.

Did you like that little plug?

Anyway, um, but it is, you know, it is really truly a great way.

And the other thing about that taking the trolley just for a moment is along the way you will get to see different pockets, different areas that unfortunately trafficking is occurring just because it's kind of you know out in the streets in certain areas that you'll be that you'll be going through.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

And I would like to encourage every one of you to come and join SOAP.

It's a Saturday morning.

I mean, it is an entire day.

Saturday morning is a phenomenal training by uh Lisa uh Teresa Flores.

Um, and then there's some other different events that will be going on, and then in the afternoon is when the teams go out, and I will tell you if you've done street outreach, that's phenomenal.

When you do a soap outreach, it's completely different and over the top.

Um, so just would really love to encourage you.

Uh Misty, I know that there was a conversation also about event tables about organizations being able to bring their awareness.

Thank you, Connie.

So we are opening it to any nonprofits or vendors that would like to set up tables.

Um, you can email me directly if you're interested in doing that, and I will connect you with Teresa, but we will have some tables set up along the wall in the conference room.

There's not a fee to table at the event.

So if you're interested in doing that, the more collaboration and people we can have there, I think that's great to highlight the work that you all are doing as well.

And to be clear, they will be sharing a table or very long tables.

They're not going to have their each individual organization table.

Yes, to be clear.

Can I get back to you on that?

I thought they were gonna be individual tables that would hold like maybe eight to ten people.

Okay along the wall.

So yeah, there may be a couple of organizations needed to share that space.

Perfect.

Okay.

The only reason I'm asking for clarification because as you are sending this out, if you're also going to invite people to have an awareness table, we want to let them have all the additional details.

So thank you.

Thank you, Misty.

Great job, everyone.

Thank you.

And anything else from your staff report, Lisa.

I'd like to thank the county attorney for being here.

Yes.

It's my job.

Thank you.

She's very she's very humble, but she and I spend a lot of quality time together, and um she doesn't get recognized often enough.

That's okay.

She speaks for me.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Yes, no, and thank you, and thank you for being here and uh indulging me when I have questions.

So I do appreciate that extremely.

And and for you know, the commission at large.

Yes, so thank you for that.

Uh any membership update at this point, Lisa.

Um, that was on the agenda, and I skipped over it.

All right.

We are waiting for the Tampa Police Department to name a person to take the vacant seat that they have.

Um I think I announced uh Captain Malayev, am I saying that?

Mulave.

Um, he is uh from Temple Terrace.

Uh hopefully he'll be joining us at the next meeting.

Not that we don't love having the detective, uh Detective Kelly here.

Um, and we spoke about uh Natasha.

I think that covers it.

Oh, state attorney's office.

I think we're still down one member from the state attorney's office.

Thank you, Miss Simon, for being here.

Uh I know you have a hard stop at 215, and I think we're gonna be right on that money.

Thank you.

Thank you, Lisa.

Is there any um other old business for us to go through any questions?

Just to answer, go through before we move along.

And Lisa, we've gone through all our new business.

Yes, we have all right, and then we have as you always know, Lisa on the bottom of our agenda does add what is coming up next, basically meaning what are the the different meeting dates.

So we have the steering committee that will have our next meeting on August the 20th, and then of course our next full board meeting is on September the 17th.

I do have a question about that, uh Lisa for the training.

So code enforcement training.

We don't have dates yet.

I ended, I'm sorry, it wasn't for the training.

I I do apologize for our community event town hall meeting.

We're looking at September 16th or 17th.

We have our board meeting on the 17th.

Are we gonna try to coordinate around our board meeting?

I don't know what the time frame is.

I I thought that um they were looking at an early evening event, so the public can come because doing it having it during the day limits attendance.

Yes.

But the it's Vice Chair Grover Skipper that is uh leading that charge, so I'll have to check with her.

Thank you.

And then of course, the statewide council on human trafficking is having their meeting in the date's not on here.

I want to say it's uh September.

I left the statewide desk, but I had announced it last uh meeting and um I'll send out a reminder.

Perfect, thank you.

Thank you.

And then when you send out that reminder, if you don't mind, I know a lot of folks have said they've tried to sign on to you know attend the meeting virtually, but have not really been able to quite navigate.

You have to create an account, it's a little bit of a wonky process when you go to attend.

Um I've attempted and failed in the past, so I know what that feels like, but once you get the hang of it, you do have to create an account to enter the site, and it repeats all the way through March.

So if you miss the September, October, whatever, I think it's October, but if you miss that um date, it replays all the way through March, and it's not interactive, so there's not an opportunity to ask questions or anything like that.

It's just mainly presentations.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

And thank you for the clarification.

I appreciate that.

If there is no lease, yes.

I just actually have more of a comment.

So as the person that's representing uh victim services, I just want to thank everybody in the room and just humanize the work that you are doing and the decisions that you are making.

You might not get the opportunity to see, you know, the training that you're doing with law enforcement and how that changes everything for a child, how law enforcement's interacting with our kids, and as a result, how our kids are interacting with law enforcement.

Um the dignity from Loft 181 with one more child.

Um, a lot of our kids have never ever had any new clothes or clean clothes, or even been into a shopping mole or any of those things.

The funding with the children's network, a lot of our kids have never had a birthday cake.

They've never had a Christmas tree, they've never gone back to school shopping.

And so I just want to reiterate.

I know there's lots of formalities in these meetings, and we are voting on things and these numbers and stats, but the work that you guys are doing, I get to see it in real life a lot, and it makes a huge difference.

So you might not get to see their faces, but it's amazing.

You guys do amazing work, so thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Natasha.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Not to belabor the meeting here, and I know you all want to leave, but uh just want to uh note that uh our poor president CEO Paul Anderson has been ported by the U.S.

Department of Transportation to the Advisory Committee on uh human trafficking.

So we'll be able to provide a poor perspective on transportation and human trafficking issues.

So treat human trafficking is not less limited to the things we talk about here on a daily basis, you know, special you know, sex trafficking and things like that.

But there's it's it's nationwide and also applies across the transportation industry.

So we'll be here to get that perspective.

If you have any comments from me, we can pass those along when we're dealing on a national level uh the issues of Rheumatraff.

We do posters at our cruise terminals to advise, you know, about human trafficking.

You see something, say something, et cetera, just like the airport does as well.

So we're here to help.

Thanks.

Thank you.

That's fantastic, if I must say.

Um have similar trainings and and signage, et cetera, that you're doing so phenomenally.

I think we're we're pretty much the leader because there's a lot of ports that are kind of maybe reluctant to talk about it because they think that they talk about they're of a problem.

You know, we're not bringing in people in containers, you know, they would not survive coming from China, et cetera.

Um, so it's one of those issues that we've gone out there and we've talked about it at different AAPA meetings, American Association Port Authorities, a lot of ports don't like talking about because it makes it look like they have a problem if they talk about it.

So, from that perspective, you know, we're out there talking about it.

We don't have an issue with it, but we're trying to create awareness.

We give out um information to truck drivers.

We have 10,000 truck moves a day through the port.

So we're giving out what we work with the truckers against trafficking, things like that.

Those are ways we can try to help combat and really awareness is what we're trying to do here as well, is creating that awareness about human trafficking, and so that's what we're we think we're gonna accomplish.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you, and thank you.

Uh I know that you've partnered with TAT, and they're phenomenal, truckers against trafficking, um, and they've really expanded because they started off basically in the trucking industry, and now they have expanded to all transportation and tying it all back in together, and it's been incredible to watch the transformation and growth for truckers um against trafficking over the years.

So, again, thank you.

Thank you.

Any other new business comments, uh praise reports.

I I'm loving, thank you, Natasha.

You have no idea.

So thank you so much because I know everyone around here is put a lot of hours and works very hard, and um it's always nice to hear the rewards from that.

So again, thank you.

Yes, Rob.

I just wanted to dovetail on what uh Ms.

Natasha Mento was talking about.

This group works so much in the day-to-day bureaucracy of fighting human trafficking that sometimes they don't get to see the value of their good works.

And uh, you know, I think about Loft 181 and the wonderful things they do there.

If you ever have a day where you're just because what we deal with is very heavy and deep, and and we we ruminated about it a lot.

Uh, if you need to go see something like Loft 181, we can arrange for you to go and visit and and not have any survivors there and just see what the survivor experiences when they go to to to benefit from that program.

It's absolutely incredible.

The dignity it provides, and and as Natasha mentioned, some of these kids have never ever had people take time out of their life to spend with them and and help them feel better and and help them uh help give them a sense of worth.

So if you're ever feeling like that, we have programs that we can that you guys have supported and funded uh that we can make arrangements for you to go visit.

And I love that idea.

Maybe we could strategize a few different dates and just put it out there to the board and we can set up a little tour, talk a little bit more what that would look like.

But I think that would benefit a lot of us because it also brings in the conversation about our community kids and our kids that are in foster care, and which is something that we a lot of us, and I've been doing this work for a long time, and sometimes I forget the difference and how funding works and et cetera.

And um, so going to visit different places also can also educate us in some different avenues that we might not know.

Yes.

And on that topic, uh wanted to remind folks that the Office of Program Performance and Government Accountability, uh, the state's legislative think tank did their annual report on uh commercial sexual exploitation of children and issued it in June.

Uh I've sent that to uh Miss Month Leon.

And have you distributed that yet?

Okay.

If you haven't received it, she'll make sure the entire group gets it.

But it's really a wonderful source of data on at least children who are being uh CSE'd, so you know what's happening, not only on on the service side, but the governmental response, and then it's got some really good data on numbers as well.

So please take a look at that, it'll help inform your future decisions.

Uh the other thing I wanted to mention, and they're not here, uh, children's network, really absorbed what this group had this had to say, and this last legislative session actually uh supported a local funding initiative and brought it to the legislature to recreate the chance program here in Hillsborough County.

And the and the chance program is one of those wonderful uh multimodal models that focuses on youth that are trafficked uh and really is a best practices model, and they were very successful in getting it through both the House and Senate, but unfortunately it was vetoed by the governor.

But what it tells me is they're doing the work, they're hearing what this group has to say, and they're bringing it back and they're trying to improve the the system, and I think they deserve credit for that work.

Um I read that the children's network didn't receive the appropriations for um to bring chance here.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed.

I was so excited it was finally coming because we've been working on it 2016, 17, right, to bring it here.

So well, there's always next year.

Uh and you know, the the documentation is together.

The the you know, some of the folks that supported it are gonna still be in the legislature next year, so maybe they'll have a better run of it next year.

But again, they put in the effort and they put in the work.

Well, just to piggyback over what Heather had mentioned about the ads for foster parents, for those of you that don't know, um, the Chance program is a parent-based model, a foster parent-based model.

So a lot of our kids do not do well in group case settings, but they do extraordinarily well in parent settings in sort of traditional home settings, which is most kids do.

Um we've known the chance program from when they started in South Florida, had just tremendous success in South Florida, and yeah, since 2015 or 2016, we've been trying so hard to get them to Hillsborough County because we've just seen how well our kids do in those kinds of settings.

So but the foster parents, a huge component of that, so we're getting a head start.

It's great.

And I would just like to, as we're talking, I don't know if it's really new business, but I would like to put on the table that maybe Natasha could give us a mini training, not today, of course, but we could schedule it in our next uh board meeting, just a mini training on the difference of our our children and how they're being served and the difference of our community children and our children foster care, and more importantly, what are those funding sources?

Because a lot of folks don't realize it.

And if I may, Natasha, um they do their what what Natasha does when they have their big gala every year, and it's phenomenal, and it's beautiful, and it's over the top, and it is all those kinds of things, right?

But it's also about living the fairy tales about letting our children know that they can dream this beautiful dream when you walk in to their their fundraiser.

But the reason that I bring that up is that fundraiser, from my understanding, so much of that money is going before to the community kids because there's not funding for our community kids.

And so I just want to remind everyone that you know when you see an organization doing phenomenal galas and all these other things, and you know what what is the thing behind it?

I know for reading finding refuge, it's really about creating what children's imagery in life and childhood should be about, but as well as just really driving what's going on and the difference, you know, and that we do need that funding for our community kids because it's not there.

And and Connie, we have some newer members that maybe don't understand the difference between dependent kids and community kids.

Can you talk a little bit about that?

Yes, quickly.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Well, our dependent children are children that are in the foster care system, so they've already been removed, they don't have uh custodian at this time, other than the state, and obviously our kiddos that are not independent CK are what we refer to as community kids.

In having a conversation with Connie, and I would love to do a mini training with the board, but in the state of Florida, if we have foster care children, we have very strict statutory sort of regulations and requirements about how we handle maltreatment codes for children that are in foster care.

We don't have those same obligations to our community kiddos necessarily.

And so interestingly, on our census this year, we had two-thirds of the population that we served were community kids.

So these are all maltreatment codes that are coming in that hardly anyone's ever gonna hear about.

Um in fact, I'd be curious to see if the Opaga report included community youth, um, because that is a very big problem for our community, and there is no funding mechanism attached to those children.

So if you have caregivers that want to hold on to these children that are willing to care for them, so they do not come into our foster care system at all, there's no resources for those families necessarily.

They can't reach out for supports, and so a lot of not just our agency, I'm sure plenty of agencies, is they're getting creative in how they're fundraising so that they can support those families.

You can pay for a home study, you can give rap services to families, and so a lot of what we're trying to do, frankly, is act as a diversion provider so that we have less and less kids that have trafficking maltreatment codes come into the system of care to begin with.

Um, and again, we've been doing this for 16 years.

This year it's record high for the number of community kids.

I want to say, yeah, two-thirds of our whole census were community kids, which has never happened before.

So and heather, I see you shaking your head over there, because you know.

So and thank you, Natasha.

Thank you so much.

Any additional new business like to make a motion to adjourn?

You make a motion to adjourn?

All right, we are adjourned.

Thank you so much, everyone.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

I don't know what it was.

I offer you.

I mean, I'm sorry.

Nice to be here again.

I know.

We have to make a transition.

Yes, yes, I really have to do that.

I don't know if maybe it's a good idea.