Good News - February 2020

LOCAL 29 FEBRUARY 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Place of Hope is going to talk about how you can get involved in helping educate hotels to recognize the signs of human trafficking and how to respond. And Char Talmadge, director of Rescue Up- stream, will talk about a new provider portal that allows ministries and agencies to share re- sources and information across Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. “Sharing One Love is a technology platform that links together people that are in the fight against human trafficking,” ex- plained Talmadge. “We use it when we make calls and it allows us to docu- ment, track, and flag data for law enforcement, but there is now a different link where you can go on SharingOneLove.org and click on “Volunteer Your Services.” Professionals who want to volunteer their services to help vic- tims can click on that link. They fill out the Memoran- dum of Understanding, pay $35 for a background check and complete a module of human traffick- ing training.” Once volun- teers are vetted through the system, agencies can connect victims with vol- unteers willing to share their services to help. “Anyone can be a service provider,” ex- plained Paratore. “It can be something as basic as teaching a victim who is now a survivor how to drive or how to dress for a job interview or to pro- vide dental work or teach- ing someone computer skills. All the basic things they were denied that would enable them to be able to move forward. Those service providers are sorely needed.” For Talmadge, “It’s re- ally a story of the faith- based community coming together to make a differ- ence.” “As a church I believe we have a moral impera- tive to shine a light on this,” said Pratore. “It re- ally is for anyone who has eyes and ears and a heart to serve Christ…. It is so important for the church to be a part of the solution to give people hope, to let people know they are loved.” Everyone is invited. Pratore encouraged, “Just come and hear and learn because there is al- ways something that everyone can do. You don’t know the difference you can make in some- one’s life.” To learn more, visit communityofhope.church /trafficking. (Continued from pg. 28)