Programs

Violence and Injury Prevention

The Violence and Injury Prevention Section works with county health departments, located in all of Florida's 67 counties to ensure staff are trained to identify potential trafficking victims to ensure the health and safety of the community. Prevention initiatives to educate the community on human trafficking are implemented year round, with an emphasis on recognizing January as Trafficking Awareness month.

Refugee Health

The Refugee Health Program provides health assessment and immunization services to foreign-born victims of trafficking under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

Medical Quality Assurance

The Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) serves as a liaison between the public and the professional boards and councils as well as between the licensees and their respective boards and councils.

MQA works closely with law enforcement throughout the state to combat human trafficking by reporting suspected cases during the inspection and investigation process. MQA provides resources to educate health care practitioners on identifying possible victims of human trafficking and steps to take when a practitioner believes someone is the victim of human trafficking.

Migrant Farmworker Housing

The Migrant Housing Program requires inspectors to perform exterior and interior inspections on the housing units. Our local health department inspectors conduct two inspections each quarter, while the permitted camps (H-2A farmworker housing, migrant labor camps and residential migrant housing establishments) are occupied.

The Department also investigates complaints of unpermitted migrant housing establishments. Environmental Health Inspectors may be the first ones to observe suspicious activities in a migrant camp that may be related to human trafficking, especially during the investigation of unpermitted housing, where many victims may reside. Inspectors are trained to report any suspicious activity.