The fifth annual Human Trafficking Symposium will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Cohen Center Ballroom. The symposium is presented by the Department of Social Work, Florida Gulf Coast University; and sponsored by Christy’s Cause, Inc and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Admission is $45 and breakfast and lunch are included. Students may attend at no cost, based on space availability. The State Attorney’s Office and Christy’s Cause are presenting a second training experience for Law Enforcement and Prosecution held at the Lee County Port Authority Airport Training Center on Friday, May 10, 2019, expanding the focus on child exploitation, child pornography, and child sex trafficking. The keynote speaker is Callahan Walsh, Strategic Advancement & Partnerships Senior Specialist, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve as the national clearinghouse and resource center for information about missing and exploited children. Walsh is the son of John and Revé Walsh, who co-founded NCMEC in 1984 after the kidnapping and murder of their first son Adam Walsh. A team from NCMEC in Alexandria, VA will provide specialized trainings on both days including Case Analysis, Trauma Informed Care, Forensics, Cyber Crimes, and Family Advocacy. The NCMEC team will also provide information on free resources they offer to first responders in our community. “Of the more than 23,500 endangered runaways reported to NCMEC in 2018, one in seven were likely victims of child sex trafficking,” said Dr. Amanda Evans, EdD, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Social Work. “One of the goals of the symposium is to provide best practices from the NCMEC to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sex trafficking.” The symposium will offer professional training tracks for law enforcement and prosecution, health care providers, mental health professionals, educators, and NGO’s. Speakers include Amira Fox, State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit; Angela Aufmuth, Director of Case Analysis Division for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; Amanda Evans, EdD, MSW, LCSW, Assistant Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Social Work; Julie Franklin, Chief Operating Officer for the Shelter for Abused Women & Children; Jennifer Wolff, BSN, RN, Lee Health; Amanda Krause, Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit; and Christy Ivie, Founder and President of Christy’s Cause. Licensed clinical social workers, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can receive up to 6 hours of continuing education hours through the Department of Social Work, Florida Gulf Coast University. Nurses can receive 2 hours of Human Trafficking continuing education credits by attending the WeCare break out session. “Human Trafficking ties second as the largest global enterprise, with Florida ranking third in the nation for reported cases,” said Christy Ivie, founder of Christy’s Cause. “One of four victims are children. We are fighting to make a difference in the lives of those who desperately need our help.” To register visit christyscause.com/ or https://www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/socialwork/. To become a sponsor, contact Christy Ivie at christy@christyscause.com or 239-301-0010. About Christy’s Cause Christy’s Cause, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization launched in Estero, Florida in 2015 that is working to eradicate child sex trafficking through education, public awareness, restoration projects, and justice initiatives. Christy’s Cause collaborates with existing organizations who are providing services to victimized minors locally, nationally, and globally. Christy’s Cause works to create awareness through speaking engagements, public service announcements, social media initiatives, training programs, and community events. To effectively understand issues concerning the commercial sexual exploitation of children, Christy’s Cause serves on the Human Trafficking Task Force with State Attorney’s Office. Christy’s Cause believes that as our community becomes more knowledgeable on the issues of sex trafficking we become more powerful in fighting against this epidemic. For more information about Christy’s Cause visit www.ChristysCause.com, email info@christyscause.com or follow Christy’s Cause on Facebook and Instagram.