The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and its community-based care providers recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Florida received 1,892 reports of human trafficking – a 54 percent increase from the previous year. The increase in reported allegations of human trafficking was due in large part to increased training and the recently launched Human Trafficking Screening Tool (HTST) developed as a collaborative effort between DCF, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
“The increase in reports of human trafficking is evidence that the coordinated effort across state agencies to train professionals is increasing awareness and bringing more of these cases to light,” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Florida must continue to create and implement a continuum of services that addresses all aspects of a survivor’s life including physical, social, emotional and spiritual health.”
More Floridians are recognizing the signs of human trafficking and reporting it to authorities. In addition to improved reporting tools, the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking – Secretary Mike Carroll is the Vice-Chair – has implemented specialized training for first responders and other child welfare professionals to recognize the signs of human trafficking and report it.
In March 2015, DCF and DJJ launched the human trafficking screening tool used by DJJ Juvenile Assessment Center Assessors, DCF and sheriff’s offices’ child protective investigators, and community-based care lead agencies to report incidents of suspected human trafficking. In the first year of implementation, 3,500 screenings were completed with 1,289 (37 percent) of screenings resulting in calls to the Florida Abuse Hotline. The top five counties to generate potentially trafficked youth under this screening process included Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.
Local, statewide and national partnerships, including state agencies, service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, the judicial system and concerned citizens, are driving the fight against human trafficking in Florida.
“Florida must continue the hard work begun on behalf of those who are often the state’s most vulnerable citizens. We cannot falter in our fight of this heinous crime,” said DJJ Secretary Christina K. Daly. “Every day that we work to increase awareness of human trafficking is another potential victim saved through our combined efforts.”
DCF tracks human trafficking by three primary categories: sexual exploitation by a non-caregiver, such as an adult entertainment club or escort service; sexual exploitation by a parent, guardian or caregiver; and labor trafficking, also referred to as slavery or servitude.
Human Trafficking Awareness Month is recognized every January. For more information on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking, as well as how to report it, visit: www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/human-trafficking.
Florida Lottery celebrates 29 years of winning moments
More than $30 billion contributed to education
Today marks the Florida Lottery’s 29th year in operation, with another year of record sales and record contributions to education. In fiscal year 2016, the Lottery broke all previous records, enjoying more than $6 billion in sales and $1.67 billion in contributions to education. The Florida Lottery is also the primary funding source for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program which has enabled more than 750,000 students to attend college since the program’s inception in 1997. Additionally, Governor Scott’s support of the Lottery and strong commitment to education has resulted in 29 percent of all education contributions since start-up, occurring since he took office in January 2011.
Over the past 29 years, the Florida Lottery has firmly established itself as a dependable funding source for public education, contributing more than $1 billion annually for each of the past 14 consecutive fiscal years, and averaging more than $100 million each month in 2016.
“Twenty-nine years ago, we set out to bring the fun and excitement of winning to Florida and we are proud of our successes through the years because they have allowed more Florida students the opportunity for a great education,” said Secretary Tom Delacenserie. “We celebrate our 29th year, and thank our players and our retailers for making this anniversary our best one yet,” said Florida Lottery Secretary Delacenserie.
The Florida Lottery reinvests approximately 99 percent of its revenue back into the state’s economy, with $1.67 billion generated for education last year, more than $3.9 billion paid to prize winners, and $342 million in retailer bonuses and commissions paid to Florida businesses.
Being rude to your child’s doctor could lead to worse care
Emotions tend to run high in hospitals, and patients or patients’ loved ones can be rude to medical professionals when they perceive inadequate care.
But berating your child’s doctor could have harmful — even deadly — consequences, according to new research.
The findings by University of Florida management professor Amir Erez and doctoral student Trevor Foulk reinforce their prior research that rudeness has “devastating effects on medical performance,” Erez said.
A Johns Hopkins study estimated that more than 250,000 deaths are attributed to medical errors in the U.S. annually—which would rank as the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some errors could be explained by a doctor’s poor judgment due to a chronic lack of sleep. Those types of circumstances, according to prior research from Erez and Foulk, account for about 10 to 20 percent of the variance in practitioner performance.
The effects of rudeness, Erez said, account for more than 40 percent.
“[Rudeness] is actually affecting the cognitive system, which directly affects your ability to perform,” Erez said. “That tells us something very interesting. People may think that doctors should just ‘get over’ the insult and continue doing their job. However, the study shows that even if doctors have the best intentions in mind, as they usually do, they cannot get over rudeness because it interferes with their cognitive functioning without an ability to control it.”
In a previous study, Erez and Foulk examined the effects of rudeness from a colleague or authority figure on individual medical professionals. This study analyzed team performance and the effects rudeness has when it comes from a patient’s family member.
In the new study, 39 neonatal intensive care unit teams (two doctors and two nurses) from Israel simulated five scenarios where they treated infant medical mannequins for emergency situations such as severe respiratory distress or hypovolemic shock. An actress playing the baby’s mother scolded certain teams while the control groups experienced no rudeness.
Erez and Foulk found that the teams that experienced rudeness performed poorly compared to the control groups. The teams that encountered rudeness were deficient in all 11 of the study’s measures, including diagnostic accuracy, information sharing, therapy plan, and communication, over the course of all five scenarios showing that the negative effects last the entire day.
To combat the effect of rudeness, the researchers included “interventions” for selected teams. Some teams participated in a pre-test intervention which consisted of a computer game based on a cognitive-behavioral attention modification method intended to raise the threshold of the participants’ sensitivities to anger and aggression. Other teams participated in the post-test intervention, which consisted of team members writing about the day’s experience from the perspective of the baby’s mother.
Erez and Foulk found no difference in the performances of the control groups and the teams that played the computer game. The teams recognized the mother’s rudeness —both midway and after the simulation — but were not affected by it.
“It’s really shocking how well it worked,” Erez said. “They were basically immunized from the effects of rudeness.”
Conversely, the post-test intervention, which research has shown to be extremely successful for victims of trauma, actually had a negative effect on teams.
“What is really concerning is that, at midday, these teams recognized the mother was rude to them,” Erez said. “But at the end of the day, they did not. So not only did it not work, but it caused them to not recognize rudeness later.”
Considering the researchers’ findings and the large number of deaths attributed to medical errors, teaching medical professionals to handle rudeness more effectively should be a priority for the medical community.
“In the medical field, I don’t think they take into account how social interactions affect them,” said Erez, “but it’s something they’re starting to pay attention to. The purpose of this research was to identify what’s going on here. Now that we’ve found serious effects, we need to find more realistic interventions.”
Dr. Arik Riskin, a professor of Neonatology at the Technion, Israel Institute of technology, and Peter Bamberger, a professor of management at Tel Aviv University in Israel, also collaborated on this research. The study, “Rudeness and Medical Team Performance,” appears in the January issue of Pediatrics.
Writer: Milenko Martinovich
Source: Amir Erez, [email protected], 352-273-0339
Florida A&M University's Statement Regarding SGA's Electoral Commission Decision
The Florida Legislature has provided for university student governments to self-govern, and pursuant to the August 2016 opinion, the First District Court of Appeals upheld this autonomy.
Subsequently, on January 11, 2017, Florida A&M University’s Student Government Association (SGA) – through its Electoral Commission – issued an electoral resolution determining that Justin Bruno and Devin Harrison are the SGA President and Vice President, respectively. The SGA has the authority to self-govern pursuant to Florida Law and the Florida Board of Governors’ regulation.
The University’s administration looks forward to working with SGA’s representatives.
Statement by Senator Galvano Regarding Comprehensive Gaming Legislation Filed Today
Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton) today released the following statement regarding Senate Bill 8, Gaming, which represents an important step in the development of a comprehensive, statewide approach to reforming current gaming laws.
“This legislation in large part builds upon Senate work that has taken place over the last several years. My goal has been to address all aspects of gaming in a comprehensive manner that balances the interests of an industry that has contributed to Florida’s economy for nearly a hundred years, our ongoing revenue-sharing agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the authority of local voters, while maximizing revenues to the state.
“The modifications within the bill represent a myriad of ideas advocated by various Senators and address industry concerns regarding antiquated and ambiguous provisions of current law. The bill balances the will of the voters who have authorized additional games and locations with a retraction of gaming permits across the state.
“Further negotiations to reach a new agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida are necessary. While this legislation represents an important step, there is still a great deal of work to be done. I look forward to discussing the bill further during the upcoming Senate committee meeting and continuing to work with Governor Scott, our colleagues in the Florida House, the Seminole Tribe, industry stakeholders and constituents across the state in the weeks to come.”
Ten Arrested in Mail Theft Scheme
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the U.S. Postal Inspector Service and the Coral Springs Police Department today announced the arrests of 10 individuals in connection to string of mail thefts from post office boxes of Coral Springs residents.
According to the investigation, the defendants took letters containing checks deposited in the U.S. Mail. After illegally removing the letters from the stream of transit, the defendants allegedly removed all written information from the checks, leaving only the pre-printed information. The defendants then allegedly wrote in their own name and a higher amount and deposited the checks into their bank accounts.
The victims did not know the checks placed in the mail had been redirected, changed to a higher amount and cashed out until they received their bank statements.
Authorities arrested the following Miami-Dade County residents in connection to this case:
· Angel Luis Arcila Berovides, 19;
· Dayan Moreira Clemente, 21;
· Liubert Cordero, 27;
· Mario Jorge Marrero-Corvo, 21;
· Rosalia Llompart Garcia, 21;
· Lorena Gonzalez, 19;
· Geysi Hernandez Mendoza, 37;
· Enlys Cosme Palacios, 22;
· Alexander Reyes, 25; and
· Frank Rojas, 27.
The defendants face charges that include organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and identity theft. If convicted of all counts, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute this case.
FDLE arrests Port Charlotte man for child pornography
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today arrested Nicholas Berlen, 25, of 2474 Mockingbird Street, Port Charlotte, Florida on 20 counts of possession of child pornography.
FDLE special agents, with assistance from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Berlen’s home on January 12, 2017, and seized several computers. FDLE agents conducted forensic examinations on the computers seized and recovered more than 5,000 images of suspected child pornography, some involving children as young as five years old.
Berlen was booked into the Charlotte County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit.
Please visit the Secure Florida website to review tips for keeping your children safe online.
Senators Gainer, Broxson, and Montford File Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida
Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), Senator Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), and Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) today filed Senate Bill 364, The Recovery Fund for the Deepwater Horizon Incident, to ensure funds received in the settlement of the state’s economic damage claims caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill remain in Northwest Florida’s eight disproportionately affected counties.
“These funds represent a tremendous opportunity to make long-term investments in Northwest Florida’s economy. By sending settlement funds directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., we can ensure they are allocated in a transparent and accountable manner,” said Senator Gainer.
Under current law, the eight disproportionately affected counties are to receive 75 percent of all economic damage settlement funds received by the state. Senate Bill 364 clarifies that funds are to be directly appropriated to Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. no later than 30 days after they are received by the state.
“By clarifying the requirements under current law, this legislation ensures a smooth transfer of funds to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., not only for the funds the state recently received, but also for any future settlement payments,” said Senator Broxson.
The eight Florida counties disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon Spill include: Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County and Wakulla County.
“Nearly seven years after the spill began, on a daily basis, we are still hearing from constituents whose families and businesses were drastically impacted,” said Senator Montford. “This legislation affirms our longstanding commitment to keep these critical funds in Northwest Florida to provide for the ongoing economic recovery of our region.”
During the 2013 Legislative Session, under the leadership of then-Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) the Florida Senate developed legislation (Senate Bill 1024) sponsored by current Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart), which created Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. to ensure that economic damage settlement funds coming to the state would both benefit the eight disproportionately affected counties and be properly accounted for. Under this legislation, the five-member Triumph Gulf Coast board, chaired by former Florida House Speaker Allen Bense, is responsible for utilizing the settlement proceeds to promote job creation through lasting economic development over a period of thirty years.
Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. is tasked to work with local governments to make awards to programs and projects that meet the priorities for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the disproportionately affected counties. This includes economic development projects, grants to support programs of excellence that prepare students for future occupations, as well as infrastructure projects.
The corporation is required to abide by the state’s public record laws and public meeting notice requirements. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Financial Officer each appoint one board member. The governing board will be responsible for evaluating the economic benefits provided by each proposed project and will approve or decline funding.
Attorney General Bondi and OFR Reach Multimillion Dollar Settlements with Online Lender
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Drew J. Breakspear today announced coordinated settlements with the operators of an online lending scheme. The operators of the alleged scheme are Western Sky Financial, LLC, CashCall, Inc., WS Funding, LLC, Delbert Services Corporation and John Paul Reddam, who is President, CEO, owner and director of CashCall. Attorney General Bondi and OFR filed a joint action against the lenders in Hillsborough County Circuit Court. OFR also filed a separate administrative case font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;”>.
These settlements, in coordination with a pending Florida class action settlement against CashCall and Reddam filed in the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Florida, resolve allegations that the lender offered, serviced and collected on Western Sky loans to Florida borrowers with illegal interest rates of more than 18 percent. Subject to final court order in the class action, the settlements collectively provide more than $27 million in monetary relief to Floridians.
“Lending schemes harm consumers seeking financial assistance, and with these settlements, Florida borrowers will now be better protected from such business practices,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Thanks to a great partnership with the Office of Financial Regulation, Floridians will receive millions in restitution.”
Commissioner Drew J. Breakspear said, “I applaud the diligent efforts of our agency’s Division of Consumer Finance investigative team and the Florida Attorney General’s Office to protect Floridians from illegal business practices. Ensuring the financial industry is safe for consumers to do business is a top priority.”
Under the settlements, approximately 14,000 borrowers are expected to be eligible for a cash payment from a combined fund of more than $11 million. To be entitled to share in the fund, borrowers must have taken out a loan from these lenders and paid back more than principal plus 18 percent interest. Eligible borrowers will be contacted once payment details become formalized and refunds will vary based on the amount paid.
The settlements collectively include the following:
- The lenders are prohibited from enforcing or collecting an amount of more than $15 million in outstanding loan balances;
- The lenders are banned from future lending in Florida, including collecting, funding, making, offering, selling, servicing, soliciting or transferring any loans;
- CashCall’s lending license is revoked;
- John Paul Reddam is barred for life from obtaining any lending or other license from OFR; and
- The lenders are required to request the credit bureaus to remove any credit reporting entries relating to these loans appearing on borrowers’ credit reports.
The lenders paid $1,250,000 to Florida: a $500,000 civil penalty to Attorney General Bondi’s Office, a $500,000 administrative fine to OFR and $250,000 to Florida for costs.
To view the Attorney General’s Office and OFR’s joint stipulated judgment, click here.
To view a copy of the final order for OFR’s administrative case, click here.
To view the preliminary approval order in the pending class action settlement, click here.
People’s Trust Insurance Offers Tips for Homeowners to Protect Their Homes as Florida Enters Coldest Months
People’s Trust Insurance knows that Florida may not truly experience winter, at least by hearty Midwestern standards, but temperatures do fall in the Sunshine State when the calendar flips over to January. Because Florida homes are better prepared to deal with heat than cold, the Florida home insurance company is offering convenient tips for Florida homeowners to protect their homes as the state deals with its chilliest months.
Florida’s average January temperature is 58 degrees, with average highs in the 70s through much of South and Central Florida. But Miami hit an all-time low of 36 degrees in January 2010, and the thermometer regularly plunges far lower in the northern parts of the state – the capital city once hit -2, and the average January low is just 39 degrees.
“Floridians need to prepare for chilly weather in January and February, because most of our homes simply aren’t prepared for the lowest temperatures we see,” said George Schaeffer, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Maybe we don’t need to stock up on rock salt and snow shovels, but there are steps we should all take to make sure our homes make it through winter in good shape.”
People’s Trust Insurance offers the following tips to help plan a winter home maintenance checklist and keep your house secure as temperatures begin to drop, inside and out:
- Inspect and Insulate Doors and Windows – As much as 7 percent to 12 percent of a home’s heating loss occurs around windows and doors. Before winter arrives, inspect your home’s openings to ensure that they are properly sealed, and replace worn weather stripping to prevent warm air from escaping.
- Prepare Pipes for Freezing Weather – Frozen pipes are the second leading cause of home insurance claims in the United States., according to the Insurance Information Institute. If you live in those parts of Florida that experience colder weather, consider insulating exposed pipes to keep them from freezing and bursting. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® recommends three steps to prevent frozen pipes. Foam: insulate outdoor pipes that are exposed to cold drafts; Dome: install an insulating dome or cover on outdoor faucets and spigots to help prevent water inside the pipes from freezing or expanding; Drip: on those infrequent cold days, let your faucets drip to reduce the buildup of water pressure inside the pipe.
- Clear Dead Leaves and Brush – Following the recent active storm season, chances are yards and gutters are due for a cleaning. Clear dead leaves or brush that have accumulated around the yard, in gutters, and on the roof.
- Prepare Your Backyard Pool – While Floridians don’t exactly need to “winterize” their backyard pools, there are important steps to take to keep a pool healthy during the offseason. For example, homeowners should vacuum the bottom, empty filters, and remove any surface debris – and also take adequate precautions against algae, which can still bloom during winter months.
- Reverse Ceiling Fans – Homeowners can save up to 15 percent on annual heating costs by reversing ceiling fans to push warm air down during colder months. Setting fans to spin clockwise at a low speed will circulate warm air near the ceiling, reducing the need to use the home’s heating system.
- Replace Air Filters – A dirty HVAC filter can cause a heating and cooling system to run inefficiently and drive up utility expenses. To prevent the buildup of dirt and dust, and to save money, homeowners should inspect air filters once a month and replace them every three months, if not more frequently. Changing HVAC filters will help improve air quality inside the home.
- Inspect the Attic – Attics should be closely inspected for signs of water damage, infestation or insulation problems that could cause serious damage to the home if left unfixed. It’s important to catch any potential issues early to prevent them from becoming a widespread problem.
By following this winter home maintenance checklist, Florida homeowners will be ready for whatever winter throws at the Sunshine State.
About People’s Trust Insurance
Founded in 2008, People’s Trust Insurance has emerged as one of Florida’s top 10 home insurance companies, providing homeowners with affordable Florida homeowner’s insurance rates and benefits not available anywhere else. Honored with the 2013 Enterprise Florida Governor’s Innovators in Business Award, People’s Trust provides a “Better Way” for nearly 150,000 Floridians to insure their homes. With more than 600 employees in its family of companies and an affiliation with Florida’s largest residential insurance restoration general contractor, People’s Trust is Florida’s best-prepared home insurance company and a full partner in policyholders’ recovery after loss.
