Brooksville Council members signed a proclamation on January 5th 2014, recognizing the Tri County Human Trafficking Response Team (for Hernando, Citrus and Sumter Counties). Edie Neal with Florida Department of Law Enforcement stated that Florida is ranked the third worst state in the US for human trafficking. She explained that the problem was first noticed in larger urban areas like Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando but has recently been migrating into the more rural areas like Hernando County. She said the most vulnerable are juvenile runaways. Their most important objective is to rescue the victims and get them help.
Janine Hammett with the Children’s Advocacy Center in Hernando County explained that they are working tirelessly to find safe houses for children in these situations and come up with solutions.
The Tri County Human Trafficking Response Team is partnering with Grace World Outreach Church on January 28th to give a Youth Awareness Presentation. Also they are planning a 5k run in Brooksville.