In this Episode, Task Force Talks dives into the latest vulnerabilities children are exposed to when engaging in everyday use of the internet from the safety of their own homes.
While the internet is such a great tool for education, information, and innovation, it also represents a threat to children. Unfortunately, the internet has also become a tool for abusers to have easier access to children worldwide and is making it easier for these perpetrators to produce, access and share child sexual abuse materials. Our guest speakers provide us with information and resources on how to stay informed and educate our children on safe online use.
A special thank you to our guest speakers, Maria Clara Harrington, Training & Outreach Coordinator, from Citrus Health Network CHANCE Program, and Officer Tomas Tundidor, Retired Miami-Dade Police Detective. And to our Editing and Production Lead, Jorge Veita, from Sharing One Love, for assisting us in producing this episode.
Maria Clara Harrington
For more than 17 years, Maria Clara Harrington has been serving young survivors of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sex trafficking through counseling, advocacy and outreach. At the Chance Program, she is in a role that enables her to combine her understanding and compassion for survivors, with her skills as an educator, to raise awareness and understanding of child sex trafficking. Additionally, Maria Clara continues to collaborate with other organizations in the development of a community-based approach to CSEC that holds the promise of healing and restoring the life of exploited youth. Maria Clara holds a master’s degree in School Counseling from NOVA Southeastern University. Maria Clara was the recipient of Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi’s 2015 Distinguished Victim Services Award and the Global Initiative Consulting Network’s 2019 Outstanding Leadership Award
Tomas Tundidor
Officer Tomas Tundidor is a 30 year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department in Miami, Florida. Tomas has served in the Organized Crime Section, Narcotics Bureau, Economic Crimes Bureau and Special Victims Bureau. As a detective in the Organized Crime Section, Tomas conducted several Gambling and Vice Investigations and was lead on several Murder for Hires and Minor Sex Trafficking/Human Trafficking Investigations. Tomas was deputized by the U.S Marshals Service and worked on the FBI’s Minor Vice / Crimes against Children Task Force. He also served as a Task Force Officer for the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force. Officer Tundidor has received several awards and honors including; Police Officer of the year in 2007, Life-saving Medal in 2001 and 2007, Gold Medal of Valor in 1995 and 2007, the Purple Heart Award in 2007, and the Florida Missing Children's Combating Human/Sex Trafficking Award in 2013. Since 2017 Tomas has been an Instructor for Public Agency Training Council and has taught a 3-day Human Trafficking Investigations class Nationwide. Tomas is also an Instructor for Carterson Public Safety Group and Operation Underground Railroad Rescue.
Resources mentioned in this Episode:
South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force - https://www.sfhumantraffickingtaskforce.org/
International Rescue Committee - www.Rescue.org/SupportFlorida
Barry University - Center for Human Rights - https://www.barry.edu/center-for-human-rights-social-justice/1-human-trafficking-coalition/
CHANCE Program – http://www.citrushealth.org/CHANCE
Sharing One Love - sharingonelove.org
Operation Underground Railroad - https://ourrescue.org/
Free Digital Resources on Online Safety for Kids & Families - https://www.missingkids.org/NetSmartz