DOH-Monroe Hosts Free Human Trafficking Prevention Training in Key West

Dozens of community members, service providers, and local partners filled the Monroe County Public Library on Fleming Street in Key West on January 12 for a free Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Training organized by the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. The session, held in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Wear Blue Day, brought together public health officials, victim advocates, and residents to build practical skills for identifying and responding to trafficking in the Florida Keys.

Expert-led presentations came from the Miami Victim Assistance Program Team, which works alongside Homeland Security Investigations, and from Janelle Filsaime, a Regional Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinator with the Florida Department of Children and Families who holds a master's in public administration. Participants walked away with concrete guidance on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking, how to respond safely when concerns arise, and how to connect potential victims with available resources.

"We are grateful for the strong turnout and the collaboration that made this training possible," said Ivona Coleman, community health improvement manager for DOH-Monroe. "Community awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent human trafficking and support survivors."

Attendees described the session as informative, engaging, and highly relevant to their work and daily lives in Monroe County. After the training concluded, participants gathered for a group photo wearing blue to show solidarity with trafficking victims and raise public awareness.

The event is tied directly to DOH-Monroe's Community Health Improvement Plan, a countywide framework for addressing priority public health concerns. It also reflects a broader network of anti-trafficking efforts across Florida: the state's Department of Health provides small grants to county health departments to fund workforce training and community prevention activities, and the Florida Human Trafficking Committee, which includes Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay among its leadership, allows sheriffs to request emergency funds of up to $10,000 per event to stabilize victims following rescues.

Florida law already requires all certified law enforcement officers to complete at least four hours of human trafficking training within their first year on the job, and state statute mandates that public school personnel who have contact with students receive trafficking awareness training as well.

DOH-Monroe hosted the January 12 training as part of the same collaborative spirit that has drawn public health agencies, library systems, and federal partners together across the Keys, using a public space in the heart of Key West to make prevention education accessible to anyone willing to show up.