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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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2019 Symposium

To report Human Trafficking to law enforcement in Florida, call

The Florida Department of Health held their Human Trafficking Symposium on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at The Westshore Grand A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, 4860 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609.

The event had over a hundred attendees along with impressive panelists from all parts of Florida who informed, educated and discussed hot topics for solutions. With Florida ranked as the third in the United States for human trafficking, this huge and complex problem will require the continuation of multi-sectoral involvement of individuals, organizations, agencies and coalitions all working together to continue to raise awareness, provide education, and develop appropriate and intervention strategies!

Please find below the agenda and panelists powerpoint presentations from the event. 

Symposium Agenda

  • PANEL 1
  • PANEL 2
  • PANEL 3
  • PANEL 4
  • Closing Remarks

Lauren Whitworth, MSW, More Too Life, Inc. Open Doors Outreach Network Provider, Human Trafficking Survivor (No powerpoint presentation)

Christa Hicks, LMHC, CCPT, Executive Director of Anti-Trafficking, One More Child, Human Trafficking Survivor (No powerpoint presentation)

Wendy Belfield, MSW, Pasco County Schools

Nick Duran, Executive Director, Florida Associations of Free and Charitable Clinics- Florida State Representative for House District 112

Lujain Alhajji, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

Stephen Symes, MD, FACP, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Department of Medicine

Maria Clara Harrington, MS, CHANCE Training and Outreach Coordinator

Brooke Hensley, MD, Medical Director, Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center, Emergency Services, Jackson Memorial Hospital

Gerardo Reyes Chavez, Senior Staff, Coalition of Immokalee Workers (No powerpoint presentation)

Sidronio Casas, Unlicensed Activity Liaison, Bureau of Enforcement, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Department of Health

Andrea Ables, Environmental Manager, Bureau of Environmental Health Facility Programs, Florida Department of Health (No powerpoint presentation)

Ljiljana (Lily) Petrovic, MSW, Program Manager, Lutheran Services Florida

Maryum Khan, PhD., Candidate, Boston University and Voices of Florida/Open Doors

Corporal Alan Wilkett, Pasco Sheriff's Office (No powerpoint presentation)

Andrew Behrman, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Florida Association of Community Health Centers, Inc.

Joseph A. Cocchiarella, Special Assistant State Attorney, Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI)

Roberto Hugh Potter, PhD, Professor, Department of Criminal Justice and Evaluator, PEER (Program Evaluation & Educational Research Group) College of Community Innovation and Education Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida

Jennifer Ray, MA, Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, Violence and Injury Prevention Section, Bureau of Family Health Services, Division of Community Health Promotion, Florida Department of Health