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Episode 5: Putting Human Trafficking Awareness & Training Into Action
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Is it possible to end a problem if you don’t know what you’re looking for? In today’s conversation with Andrew Collins from CareerSource Florida, we’ll hear about the importance of awareness training and putting training into action.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:06
Speaker
Welcome back. This is another podcast from the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking. I'm Erin Collins and have the privilege of serving as its executive director.
Meet the Co-Host: Alan Wilkett
00:00:15
Speaker
Joining me today as my co-host is Alan Wilkett, retired corporal with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and board member of the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking. Alan, thanks for joining me. It's my pleasure to be here again today for this particular episode, because again, we're talking about how we collaborate as a community to end human trafficking.
CareerSource Florida & the 100% Club
00:00:33
Speaker
So in this episode, we'll hear from Andrew Collins with CareerSource Florida about their involvement with the 100% Club, which is a challenge to businesses and organizations around the state of Florida to proactively train their employees on the potential signs and indicators of human trafficking. Let's learn more from Andrew.
00:00:57
Speaker
Joining us today on the podcast is Andrew Collins with CareerSource Florida. Thank you for joining us, Andrew. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here. Can you tell our audience a little bit more about CareerSource Florida and what you guys are focused on? Absolutely. Currently, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer of CareerSource Florida, and we are the Workforce Policy and Investment Board for the state of Florida.
00:01:21
Speaker
We have 24 local workforce development boards throughout the state with over 100 career centers. Collectively, that makes up the CareerSource Florida Network, as we like to call it. And the CareerSource Florida Network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities. This increases economic self-sufficiency and prosperity for everybody.
00:01:47
Speaker
Andrew, CareerSource Florida is a statewide organization and is comprised of local regional workforce boards. Can you tell me a little bit more about what they do and how they interact with members of the public?
Local Workforce Board Services
00:02:02
Speaker
Absolutely. As a network, we have 24 local workforce development boards all throughout the state with over 100 career centers.
00:02:10
Speaker
These career centers really are the front line of services, whether that is business services, if you're a local business and you're coming in to try to attract talent or advertise your job, or if it's an individual participant service like resume help, trying to find a job, job search criteria, eligibility for different programs that could include free training, highly subsidized training,
00:02:37
Speaker
or even other social service benefits like SNAP and TANF. CareerSource Florida is a member of the Florida Attorney General's 100% Club, which is a campaign focused on challenging the business community to proactively train their workforce and their employees. Why did you all get involved? Why was it so important to help raise awareness on this important topic?
00:03:03
Speaker
That's a great question. We've been aware of the initiative since the legislation was passed in 2019, and obviously very impressed with the progress that you guys have been making. It was really when we saw a press release come out with an inaugural class of 100% club members that it got real for us. We said, we want to be in this club too.
00:03:26
Speaker
We, as a investment board here at the state level, are relatively small. We have approximately 25 full-time staff members, so it was an easy decision for the CEO of my boss and I to meet and say this is on our training plans for every one of our staff. Obviously, that's the criteria to get in that 100% club, which we immediately did in a very short period of time.
00:03:53
Speaker
I think within two months or so, two, three months, we're able to make sure that all of our employees took the training and got certified. And then we actually officially submitted the paperwork to be part of the 100% Club. And we joined that in early spring of 2022.
00:04:13
Speaker
So incredibly proud and just really important that our staff has that frontline introduction to this topic and know that they, even as individuals, can be eyes and ears throughout the state.
00:04:29
Speaker
And I think just underscores our confirmation that this is an important topic. It's something that we can all individually contribute to. Most definitely. You mentioned the regional workforce boards throughout the state. They interact with countless members of the community day in, day out.
Promoting Human Trafficking Training
00:04:49
Speaker
As you were going through the training at the statewide level, what were the discussions with those local workforce boards to let them know, inform them about this important initiative to increase awareness statewide? And how did you all encourage them to get involved? Because I know there are several regional boards across the state that have also become members of the 100% Club and have completed that. So how do those discussions go with your folks throughout the state?
00:05:19
Speaker
Yeah, it actually kicked off sort of as most administrative things do we were able to bring this up on a lot of working calls and let them know that this was a state level initiative that we had participated in. So there was a fair amount of education and just
00:05:34
Speaker
amplification of your message and how the training was. And in relatively short order, there was a fair amount of interest from many of the local workforce boards. And we see our role a lot as being able to amplify that message and make sure that the local boards understand that this is something to be involved in. Throughout those 100 career centers, they obviously interact with many, many more
00:06:04
Speaker
frontline customers, job seekers, and businesses than we do on a daily basis here in Tallahassee. Really, that's where our horsepower gets laid down and that traction happens and actually implementing a lot of the good training. It really started from working groups and conversations that we had individually with a lot of the local executive directors.
00:06:28
Speaker
Obviously, we want those who are highly motivated to take the training and implement it as a daily best practice in their own organizations. I think you're right. We've had some success and have continued to beat that drum and make sure that everybody knows that this is something that takes continual
00:06:50
Speaker
learning and implementation. And obviously it's just something that as technology is developed and new trends emerge, that is something just be constantly vigilant about. No, I agree. How has the training been received by the employees? What feedback have you all received? I think the most consistent feedback, obviously I took it and all of our employees here took it as well as some of those local boards.
00:07:17
Speaker
I think the most consistent feedback that I've heard is how real it is. This is a real topic. Obviously, it's a serious matter. I don't know that everybody's had fully comprehended the impact and the scale and just
00:07:37
Speaker
severity of some of these topics. I think that there's the appropriate amount of real life that's included in the training. There's just no way around that, I don't think. I know you guys work really hard to balance out the severity and the real life aspect within counterbalanced with what you can do and proactive measures to take.
00:07:59
Speaker
But that, in my mind, was really one of the more consistent feedback comments that I heard, was a lot of reactions like, oh, I never knew. Or, wow, that's additional, even something as simple as street slang.
00:08:17
Speaker
the way that it's actually talked about or I know there's a campaign to do focus on truck drivers because they see so much of the state and obviously are just constantly vigilant and really situationally aware. That's an important thing and we've been able to infuse some of this into our CDL training, so an obvious connection point there.
00:08:43
Speaker
But, you know, I think by large staff have sort of expressed that, you know, while I never knew moment with these are things that you can can actually do proactively. And then I think.
00:08:58
Speaker
Honestly, there's a new appreciation from most people who take this training as to our default position our every day and how that's not the case for a lot of other folks. That's the serious aspect and that's something that we should be on the lookout for.
00:09:18
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's some interesting feedback.
Recognizing Human Trafficking Signs
00:09:20
Speaker
I think the thing that, you know, we really try to convey and impress upon individuals who, you know, join the 100% club and take the Florida Alliance training is human trafficking is not the stereotypes or some of the myths that we see in entertainment or on social media. And it really dispels those in, you know, again, to your point and the feedback from
00:09:47
Speaker
those local employees, those real world scenarios that any given individual going about our day, we're going to the grocery store, we're going to get gas, we probably see things that we don't know could be something. But for this training,
00:10:06
Speaker
we have been equipped with fact-based information which is so crucial for law enforcement to receive that information whether through anonymous tip to a non-emergency hotline or even 911, the national human trafficking hotline, they need that information
00:10:26
Speaker
to be able to investigate and to look into what you might have seen when you were leaving the grocery store. And so I think that the thing that we always really enjoy hearing, as you stated from those employees, is it's real world. And it's not the white vans with no windows driving around the corner, snatching up people.
00:10:48
Speaker
There are so many different ways that we might put ourselves in a situation unbeknownst to us, but if we have the appropriate training, the fact-based training, we might be able to prevent something from happening or stop it if it's already occurring. I totally agree. As a side note of personal story, I was traveling to some of our locations in the Tampa Bay area, but I was literally pulled over and I went to
00:11:17
Speaker
the Sunshine State Parkway Bridge, a pretty big bridge. So I pulled over just to take a little break before we continued on going south. And there were a lot of signage around. And had I not taken the training course, I don't know that I really would have
00:11:33
Speaker
sort of understood the signage that was right there, alerting people to be aware of what situations around you. So in a way, the training made the world that I encountered right there at that rest stop on the Sunshine State Parkway Bridge just make more sense.
00:11:50
Speaker
And I literally had a moment where I was prompted and then did sort of stop, take a look around. And then like you say, it's one thing to have a gut feeling. It's another thing to actually notice and remember details that are useful for law enforcement or any other real world scenarios where somebody could be impacted.
00:12:12
Speaker
Yeah, Andrew, you mentioned the signage while you were recently traveling. I think that's another really important component for communities to help increase awareness collectively. There are so many different signs in ports of entry, so our airports, our cruise ports.
00:12:30
Speaker
different rest stops, the turnpike throughout the state of Florida. And we want to be able to, in a nondescript and or kind of normalized way, if you will, the human trafficking hotline number and information for people to seek help
00:12:52
Speaker
or to report suspicious activity. There are a lot of great ways that local governments are doing that throughout the state of Florida. The law changed several years ago for those local municipalities to put the signage out. And again, it's the consistency. So there is no harm that is being done by putting up a sign, putting up a sticker in the bathroom, a poster in a rest stop because
00:13:21
Speaker
The goal is to stop human trafficking and to stop exploitation. We do that by different means and methods of raising awareness. That signage is so important to do so. I totally agree. Honestly, one of the biggest benefits of the training was that the signage was instantly recognizable. It resonated and hearkened back to the training. I understood it. It was obviously a professional sign and very well-placed.
00:13:51
Speaker
But having taken the training, I was instantly able to understand and then know and be reminded again that this is what I'm here to do as somebody who has taken that training as part of the 100% Club. So I think those continual public service announcements and having that
00:14:10
Speaker
information widespread is a crucial part of your total campaign. Then of course, that breaks through digital frontiers as well. I know this is both a function of our physical signage throughout the world as we interact, but then also our digital lives. Just the familiarity with the expectation and recognition of that training, I think was a major benefit.
00:14:36
Speaker
So with all the local workforce boards throughout the state, as you mentioned, there are people through those various communities coming in and out of those local offices every weekday to gain resources,
00:14:52
Speaker
educational opportunities. What are some of the things that from this training you and those employees have gained basically some best practices that they can remember as individuals are coming into you know those local offices you know to avoid a potentially exploitive situation or to use some of that information that they've gained through the training.
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think we kind of touched on it a little bit, but just to be aware and really, you know, interact with that client, which I know we do in our local offices, but just even to have that in your mental checklist of things to be aware of, you know, it might actually explain, you know, some amount of behavior or
00:15:35
Speaker
if there's a dynamic that just seems slightly off with a group of people. Obviously, one of the best practices is, if possible, to be able to have side conversations or try to separate out group dynamics. Not always possible, but obviously being able to just get a little more information
00:16:00
Speaker
Especially in some of the areas, I know we've talked about different areas of the state and specifically with the CDL and truck driving initiatives, but we also serve a vast amount of agricultural areas throughout the state. Florida has a vast loss of rural areas.
00:16:19
Speaker
Obviously, one group of our potential eligible clients and just in general are farm workers. It's just knowing that these dynamics happen and then as they come in for any government service, being able to just recognize those classic signs and then know to pay attention.
00:16:45
Speaker
Obviously, after the training, you're able to make that determination if it needs to be elevated to some other concern or case note or letting authorities know. I think that just covers it as far as being aware enough to understand some of those signs.
00:17:06
Speaker
Seeing people come in, especially if there's a withholding of information, a lot of times there should be easy questions to answer that's really not. So in the intake process, as we go about, you know, eligibleizing our participants for government services, there's a whole host of information that should be readily available. One of those classic red signs, like if things aren't
00:17:32
Speaker
being forthcoming or unavailable. It's clearly an indication that something else may be going on. But we're especially sensitive and I've been talking with many of our local workforce boards in those rural agricultural areas because I know that's a big potential pipeline into this world.
00:17:53
Speaker
In the line of work that your local career source employees, when they're interacting with the public, what do you think some of the sorts of questions that they might be asking those individuals who are coming in, say specifically to gain resume assistance or be looking for employment, what are some of the questions that they ask these potential clients that might
00:18:21
Speaker
offer some information that could be potentially suspicious. Yeah, I think the process, especially at the local workforce board level, is really sort of a long interview process. There is a bit of intensive case management that's being initiated and then ongoing. So that's why it's really critical to train these frontline staff, because they really do have a lot of time interacting with each participant.
00:18:50
Speaker
things like, where do you live? Like how stable is your is your home life? You know, obviously, there are follow up appointments being made, there is a real relationship that is starting to be built. And those kind of very specific questions, not only about where you live, you know, your prior employment history, you know, what your goals are, you know, where do you see yourself or what your interest is, as far as training, or the future you, like,
00:19:16
Speaker
those can all be very good markers for whether or not somebody is fully engaged, thinking about tomorrow. Honestly, as I have taken the training and thought through the potential of actually witnessing this in person, somebody's ability to sort of see themselves in the future is a very important marker. If somebody feels that there just is no tomorrow, that's a huge red flag.
00:19:45
Speaker
And these workers, these caseworkers at the local boards are able to sit down and really get to know each one of these clients, obviously to best match them with successful training, successful job openings, and make sure that they are on that pathway to prosperity. So there's just no way around them starting to develop that relationship and be able to observe
00:20:11
Speaker
Those are those kind of criteria that they just sort of feel like somebody is engaged and looking forward to bettering themselves.
00:20:19
Speaker
I will say that as you were describing their role, these individuals are wearing many hats. So for someone who's coming in seeking employment, going through that interview process and follow-up process, it could be a lifeline for these individuals. And they also probably play a little counselor.
00:20:44
Speaker
and a trusted ear. So that's why I think it's so incredible that CareerSource Florida and these local boards have taken the challenge to train 100% of their employees with this awareness campaign because they're, again, interacting with members of the community, business owners, individuals who are seeking
00:21:09
Speaker
job assistance and have the real ability to potentially see something and stop something from happening. I think it's such a vital role that they play throughout our state. Just to follow up a little bit, we've actually had a lot of success over the last couple of years with what we are calling this navigator position. Obviously, we're making state-level funding available at all the local boards to have
00:21:37
Speaker
you know, specific quote-unquote navigators to actually do more intensive case management. And those can often be for specific populations, whether that's disabled or veterans or single mothers or, you know, like obviously anybody who is going to benefit from that intensive case management, that therapy, you know, for lack of a better word, that really is the whole point.
00:22:03
Speaker
There's no doubt it's hard work, actually. There's a real resistance and it's a function of time to be able to build up that trust and rapport, to be able to open up to somebody and actually get on a different path, whether that's training or employment. But that's what's so critical to those frontline staff seeing some of these dynamics, being on the lookout for it. So as they are having these repeat interactions with clients,
00:22:33
Speaker
so important that they're able to monitor for all sorts of things.
00:22:40
Speaker
And not the least of which these navigators are also able to connect to other assistants. So obviously, CareerSource Florida and our CareerSource Florida network, we're focusing on training and getting back to employment. But there's also many, many programs available for substance abuse, for temporary assistance for needy families, for nutritional aspects.
00:23:03
Speaker
So there is a whole person approach that we like to take, and oftentimes those frontline workers are the most knowledgeable about other programs, whether they're local to that specific area or statewide, that can benefit each client.
00:23:20
Speaker
Yeah, you mentioned what we like to characterize as a trained observer. So we might have information about a situation, but we don't have context. So while individuals, clients are coming into your local offices, the career source officials are presenting them information, chatting with them.
00:23:43
Speaker
They can see the full picture, whereas if you're going into a restaurant and you're a patron, you're sitting down at a table, you don't know what's going on in the kitchen. So you might have a feeling or a sense that something is amiss, but you need that additional context. So it's so important, as you mentioned and outlined for those employees,
00:24:07
Speaker
as they've gained the knowledge as a trained observer to be able to share that with law enforcement should they suspect anything is potentially suspicious. Recognizing, as you stated, Andrew, some of the potential signs and indicators of human trafficking is so important. And it's good to remember that some of these signs are visual. They could be verbal. They could be physical.
00:24:34
Speaker
So there are individuals who are in an exploitive trafficking situation that have physical signs of abuse like burns or tattoos, markings, different cuts. Is an individual who people might have known prior to their behavior changing, is their attire
00:24:53
Speaker
Changing as well are they no less appropriately dressed than before or on the other side they're covering something up and don't want you know their their skin to show.
Reporting Trafficking to Authorities
00:25:05
Speaker
People also have that the signs that sometimes are behavioral are they withdrawn are they depressed you know for minor students and children.
00:25:17
Speaker
Is someone missing school or not attending those sports practices or church services? There's so many different signs and indicators and not every sign or indicator is present in a human trafficking situation. Again, but it is a good reminder that some are physical that we can see and then some are behavioral with an individual as well.
00:25:43
Speaker
So individuals who suspect something suspicious or potentially exploitive is going on. We always urge people to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. That number is 888-373-7888.
00:25:58
Speaker
Or if you suspect something is happening and someone is in imminent danger, law enforcement wants you to call 911. They can investigate or pursue leads if they don't have that information. So it's so important to send those tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to call 911 or your local law enforcement.
00:26:21
Speaker
What would you tell an organization or a company that is interested about the 100% Club, interested in learning more about human trafficking and how to protect their community? Why has it been so valuable and impactful for CareerSource Florida to get involved and engaged with this campaign?
00:26:41
Speaker
Yeah, I think most of the advice that I would give any company, whether it's a for-profit entity or not-for-profit or a government agency, is there is a collective responsibility that each of us have as organizations. I think that's probably that servant leadership that we all aspire to become. I think that's a big one just right out of the gate.
00:27:05
Speaker
But secondarily, I think that as we talk about, obviously, we're in the employment training business, and retention of employees is so critical right now and being able to attract talent, making sure that everybody has that room to grow. The social responsibility side, I think, is something that many employees really crave. I think this is a useful outlet to be able to say, look, you're part of a larger community,
00:27:34
Speaker
And even though we're here within this organization, I've dealt with many companies who have very robust training programs, whether that's specific to their industry or process, or if it's a recognition of a larger dynamic as this is. One of our core values, I think, as a network is that idea of continuous learning. And this certainly fits into that as far as being aware of new dynamics
00:28:04
Speaker
always learning new things, being able to apply that knowledge and not to sound too Pollyanna, but making the world a slightly better place, I think, in the process, which is really at least part of the goal of almost every corporate training program. You want good employees who can contribute not only to the individual bottom line of a company,
00:28:29
Speaker
but also to their community and then state and country. So this is a very important training aspect, I believe.
00:28:41
Speaker
Well, and I agree, and I don't think it is Pollyanna. The goal is that in closer than a generation, we can increase awareness where people are making those phone calls, sending a text to the national hotline, and we're eradicating not just the state of Florida, but globally collectively with other organizations and government and businesses.
00:29:08
Speaker
you know, the exploitative nature that is human trafficking. I want to thank you Andrew and CareerSource Florida for becoming a member of the 100% Club. We're grateful for that servant leadership and your dedication to making Florida a safer place for all to live, work and play. So again, thank you Andrew Collins with CareerSource Florida for joining us today.
00:29:38
Speaker
Alan, wow. I'm sure you learned a lot about what CareerSource Florida as a statewide organization is doing to train its employees, but it was wonderful to learn how they have encouraged all their regional and local workforce boards to become members of the 100% Club and train their employees.
00:29:56
Speaker
career source members across the state are interacting with members of the community for re-employment, for job services, whether that's assisting with resumes, seeking other services like housing. So they're having a consistent interaction with members of the community where they might see something. So I think it's wonderful that they've been so proactive in training their employees throughout the state.
00:30:26
Speaker
Yeah, and I think you said it well. Oftentimes, we think about industries and we look at truckers make sense. Sometimes it's easy to say, well, this particular Uber or truckers or some of these others, it makes sense for them to be trained career source. It just goes to show.
00:30:48
Speaker
that no matter what your industry is, you play a vital part in ending human trafficking. As you said, employment opportunities, reemployment, reentry into the job market, housing, all of those kind of things are part of that community fabric. And as such, it's important that those that interact in that particular fabric have the training that is necessary to be able to report that suspicious activity to the appropriate places. Once again, establishing in the mind of all of us
00:31:18
Speaker
that everyone plays a vital part because everyone can be at eyes and ears in the community disrupting human trafficking.
00:31:28
Speaker
I found another interesting thing that Andrew mentioned is the willingness and the openness for these regional workforce boards to become trained and to fill out the application at YouCanStopHT.com with the 100% Club. There's a lot of different requirements that businesses place upon their employees. And sometimes those employees resist, but it was nice to hear that the training
00:31:55
Speaker
The Florida Alliance one hour training has been so well received. And even he mentioned some of the great things, the potential tips and indicators, the signs of human trafficking, both commercial sex and labor trafficking. It reminded him about the things that he knows he's seen. He's become educated on the topic, but it was a reinforcing message, which I think was so great that he shared.
00:32:19
Speaker
And he talks about very specifically about stopping at the rest area and seeing the signage, recognizing that Florida is requiring all the rest areas as well as other places to have that signage there. Looking at the sign and just that refresher, that reminder, hey, I've been trained in this. I know what to look for. And if I spot this information and these
00:32:40
Speaker
behaviors and indicators, I know also who to call the national hotlines, the texting to the national hotline, how to respond. And that's one of the pieces that I think is so incredibly important. We look at it in three levels, three tiers. You need to be aware, you need to be educated, but you also need to be trained. And the training is that piece that says, look, I know what I'm seeing, I know it looks suspicious, but what do I do with it?
00:33:07
Speaker
and that reminder of I know what to do with that information becomes critically important. What good is the information if I spot it but don't know what to do with it? And I think we heard today how important that is.
00:33:19
Speaker
Right? And you mentioned the National Human Trafficking Hotline. And again, that number is 888-373-7888 or texting BEFREE to 233-733.
Community's Role in Reporting
00:33:34
Speaker
As a retired law enforcement officer, you know so well that law enforcement wants tips. They need those
00:33:43
Speaker
pieces of information so they can look into it and begin their investigative report. And if we don't have the partnership and the collaborations with members of the community, which includes local organizations like CareerSource, you can't do your good work. So it was great to learn more about how they're encouraging their employees to become more proactive.
00:34:06
Speaker
And as law enforcement, I have received those tips. As law enforcement, I have received the emails from the National Human Trafficking Hotline from Polaris that says, hey, we received this on our hotline. It was critically important to have a reporting mechanism.
00:34:22
Speaker
to have an ability to receive that into law enforcement so that we can do something about this. I as law enforcement can't do something about something I don't know about. But having the community, the business community, the community at large engaged in doing something about this, eyes and ears and reporting, now I can do something about that. And that's why the community, all of us, are important in this fight to end human trafficking.
00:34:49
Speaker
Well, Alan, I want to thank you again for joining me on this episode of the podcast. Alan Wilkett, retired corporal with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and board member of the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking. This has been another podcast from the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.