Stuart, Fla. — Lynn Barletta, founder of the Florida Faith Alliance, described awareness and prevention work on human trafficking during a City of Stuart proclamation and encouraged local officials and residents to support training, tip lines and a regional task force.

Barletta accepted the city’s proclamation declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and presented an awareness campaign called “Don’t Take the Bait,” which includes curricula and videos targeted at school-age children.

Barletta said Florida ranks third in hotline calls nationwide and recounted local cases and arrests: she told commissioners she and her organization had helped generate tips that led to multiple arrests in Martin County and nearby communities, including a December 2024 local arrest for grooming described in the presentation. She said her materials have trained school staff and county employees and that the program planned to reach tens of thousands of local students and employees.

In follow-up remarks, Chief Tuminelli and other officials said the Stuart Police Department is working with regional partners on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task-force cooperation. Chief Tuminelli said an MOU with a regional ICAC group (Broward County–led task force) is on his desk and will be brought to the commission for consideration in the next meeting or two. Commissioners and the city manager said the sheriff’s office and federal Homeland Security investigative partners have been involved in local cases.

Barletta also noted recent state legislation and enforcement steps. She said HB 3 and other anti-trafficking bills passed in 2024 tightened state rules; commissioners and speakers cited those bills during questions about prevention and enforcement.

Ending — Officials asked staff to provide details and next steps: the police department indicated it will present formal task-force documents and a proposed MOU to the commission for approval at an upcoming meeting.