Safe Houses and Other Services

What happens if someone thinks I have experienced human trafficking?

A child protective investigator or a case manager may want to talk to you if there are concerns about your safety or experiences. The goal is to understand what’s going on so that if you have experienced human trafficking or are in an unsafe situation, they can try to help you. The goal is not to get you in trouble.

Things to remember:

• You are always in control of what you share.
• You should be allowed to talk in a private place where you feel comfortable and safe.
• You can say that you are worried about your safety if you talk about what has happened to you.
• If you start to feel uncomfortable while answering their questions, you can: ask for a break, ask to speak to them later, and/or ask to have a therapist involved.
• It’s okay to take things at your own pace. Your safety and comfort matter.

If the investigator or case manager says I have experienced human trafficking, what happens next?

There will be a meeting called a “multidisciplinary team” staffing (MDT). The people who attend this meeting should include the child protective investigator and/or case manager, a DCF attorney, your attorney, supportive adults in your life (only if it is safe for them to be included) , and most importantly—you! Other people that can attend include service providers (such as counselors) and school staff.

At this meeting, people involved in your case will get together to talk about things you need and make a plan for how to help you. They will also talk about what kind of placement is right for you and where you should live. There will be other MDTs in the future to check in, see how things are going, and make changes to the plan if needed.

This goal of this process is to support you, not to punish you or take away control from you.

Can I get help with my mental health if I have experienced human trafficking?

Yes. You can get services like counseling, therapy, and substance abuse treatment. You can ask to go to counseling or therapy that is designed specifically for young people who have experienced human trafficking. You can also ask if a “survivor mentor” is available. A survivor mentor is a person who has also experienced human trafficking and has done training to be able to help you.

Can I get help with my medical health if I have experienced human trafficking?

Yes. If you need medical treatment while in foster care, you can get help like going to the doctor for a basic physical exam, going to the dentist, pregnancy testing, birth control, STD treatment, and more. You can ask for medical care at any time. You don’t have to explain. For more information on getting medical treatment in foster care, visit the MEDICAL HEALTH section of FosterPower.

Do youth who have experienced human trafficking have the right to an attorney?

If you are in foster care and verified for human trafficking, the court MUST appoint an attorney to you. The kind of attorney who represents youth in foster care in dependency cases is called an attorney ad litem.

What this means for you:

• Your attorney’s job is to represent you and advocate for what you want.
• They protect your legal rights.
• They should explain what is happening in your case and your options in a way that makes sense.
• They help make sure your voice is heard in court and in meetings.
• Your conversations with your attorney are private, meaning your attorney will not tell anyone what you talk about with them unless you say it is okay.

If I have experienced human trafficking, who decides where I will live when I’m in foster care?

At a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting, the people involved in your case will talk about what kind of placement is right for you and where you should live. The goal is to find a place where you can be safe, supported, and as stable as possible. The team will talk about:

• what kinds of placements are available,
• whether a certain placement is safe for you,
• whether the placement can give you the things you need,
• how likely you are to stay in the placement (and not run away),
• where the placement is located,
• who is in your support system, and
• anything else that should be considered.

The law says you should live in the least-restrictive, most family-like setting that is able to support you and provide the things you need. Some youth live with safe family members. Others live with foster families. Youth who need protection from their traffickers and/or specialized services sometimes live in safe houses. Youth who need a lot of support for their mental health sometimes live in therapeutic group homes or residential treatment centers. Where you live can change over time as your situation, needs, and preferences change. There should be an MDT meeting every time you move, and you should be invited to this meeting.

What is a safe house or safe foster home?

Safe houses are a type of placement where young people who have experienced sex trafficking can live for a period of time. Safe houses are shared homes with a small number of youth. They usually have house parents and other staff who are trained to support youth, and someone must be awake and ready to help at all times.

Safe foster homes are family homes where a young person who has experienced sex trafficking can live. Unlike safe houses, safe foster homes do not have staff, and they do not need to have someone awake all night. Instead, they have foster parents who are trained to support youth.

Both safe houses and safe foster homes must follow important rules to keep youth safe. For example, the location of every safe house must be kept confidential, and only certain people are allowed to visit. The goal is to create a place where you can rest, knowing that you are safe and supported.

What should my safe house or CSEC placement do to help me?

All placements for youth who have experienced sex trafficking have to make sure youth can get the help they need. Examples of help include therapy, family counseling, treatment for sexual assault, substance abuse services if needed, education that fits your specific needs, and safe and enjoyable activities. Your placement should help connect you with a survivor mentor, someone who has lived experience, if one is available. If you are asked to talk to law enforcement about your experience with human trafficking, or if you are going to testify in criminal court, your placement should make sure you have “victim-witness counseling” to support you through that process. The parents or staff at your placement should also help you learn life skills and skills to get a job, and they should help you move into a less-restrictive placement when you are ready.

Do I have a right to education if I am placed in a safe house?

Yes, safe houses are required to provide, set up, or coordinate education that meets your specific needs. This should include extra help to catch you up to your grade level if necessary. Many safe houses enroll residents in home school or Florida Virtual School and have one or more teachers come to the safe house to provide education support.

Can my caregiver at my safe house take away my cell phone?

Caregivers have to balance keeping you safe with allowing you to do things people your age are usually allowed to do. They must use something called the “reasonable and prudent parent standard” meaning they must make decisions for you as a reasonably parent would. If a reasonable parent would take your phone, your caregiver can too. For example, if you use your phone to send inappropriate pictures, talk to strangers on the internet, or call unsafe family members, your caregiver may choose to take your phone to keep you safe.

In some situations, like in safe houses, there may be special rules and limits on phone use to protect you and the other people who live there.

Your phone is your property, and staying connected to people you trust matters. If your caregiver takes your phone, they should keep it in a safe location until you can have it back. If you do not have your own phone, your caregiver should let you use their phone or a house phone to contact your case manager, lawyer, and other approved people.

Rules about when and how you can use a phone should be put in place to keep you safe, not to punish or control you.

Can a safe house make me leave for breaking the rules?

Safe houses are meant to provide safety and stability, not punishment. Safe houses are not supposed to make you leave for the following reasons unless your behavior is threatening the safety or stability of the other youth living there:

• Running away from the safe house;

• Non-violent behavior that is against the law (violent behavior that breaks the law is looked at on a case-by-case basis);

• Trying to recruit other youth to participate in sex trafficking;

• Violent behaviors that do not put other people in danger;

• Mental health diagnoses (unless the placement can’t give you the help you need); or

• Using drugs sometimes (unless it is heavy drug use or you need detox).

If your behaviors are threatening the safety or stability of the other youth living there, the safe house will likely ask for you to move.