The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners convened on January 28, 2025, to address critical issues, with a significant focus on human trafficking, particularly child trafficking. The meeting featured a presentation from a representative of the Florida Faith Alliance, who highlighted the alarming rise of child trafficking in the United States, especially in Florida, which ranks third in the nation for hotline calls related to this crime.

The speaker emphasized that child trafficking has become the fastest-growing crime globally, exacerbated by the pandemic. In Indian River County alone, there have been 14 arrests related to child trafficking and exploitation in the past year and a half. The presentation underscored the role of social media in facilitating these crimes, with predators using platforms to groom children.

In response to this crisis, the Florida Faith Alliance has developed educational materials aimed at middle and high school students, which have been approved for use in local schools. The initiative aims to train over 70,000 children and 7,000 school employees across two counties in 2025. Additionally, the organization is collaborating with local governments to promote awareness and training programs for community members to recognize and report trafficking.

The commissioners expressed their support for the initiative, acknowledging the importance of education and awareness in combating human trafficking. They noted that local city councils have also taken steps to recognize and address this issue, committing to training for their employees.

The meeting concluded with a call to action for the community to unite against child trafficking, reinforcing the message that collective efforts are essential to protect vulnerable children in Indian River County.