Free Human Trafficking Prevention Training Offered to Monroe Residents

Monroe County residents and workers will have a new opportunity to learn how to identify and respond to human trafficking when the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe), the Miami Victim Assistance Program team, and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) host a free training on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event takes place at the Monroe County Public Library – Key West, 700 Fleming St., with an option to join virtually via Zoom.

The training, scheduled during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and coinciding with Wear Blue Day, is open to all community members, including residents, business owners, service providers, hospitality staff and educators. Organizers say the session will help attendees understand what human trafficking is, recognize common signs and indicators, learn how to respond when concerned about someone’s safety, and identify available support and resources for victims.

The Miami Victim Assistance Program team will lead the session, followed by Janelle Filsaime, MPA, Regional Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinator for DCF. There is no cost to attend and no pre-registration required. DOH-Monroe administrator and health officer Dr. Carla Fry, PhD, MSN, RN, has encouraged community attendance and noted the training supports the Community Health Improvement Plan, signaling a coordinated public health approach to victim identification and prevention.

For Monroe County, the training represents a practical step toward strengthening front-line awareness across sectors that regularly interface with vulnerable populations. Hospitality and service industries, which employ large numbers of seasonal and transient workers, can be critical sites for early identification. Educators and social service providers also stand to gain skills that could shorten the time between victimization and the provision of support.

Institutionally, the cross-agency collaboration underlines an expectation that public health, social services and victim assistance teams share responsibility for prevention and response. Translating training into measurable community outcomes will require follow-up: consistent outreach to businesses and schools, clear reporting pathways, and local policy commitments to sustain resources for victim services.

The session is positioned as both an educational resource and a civic call to action. By making training open and accessible, county officials aim to broaden the community’s capacity to spot trafficking, take appropriate action, and direct victims toward help. Residents interested in attending in person or by Zoom can go to the Monroe County Public Library – Key West at the stated time; no registration is necessary.