Commercial sexual exploitation of children; screening and assessment; training; multidisciplinary staffings; service plans.

(1) SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT.—

(a) The department shall develop or adopt one or more initial screening and assessment instruments to identify, determine the needs of, plan services for, and determine the appropriate placement for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation who are not eligible for relief and benefits under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 22 U.S.C. ss. 7101 et seq. The department shall consult state and local agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in the identification and care of such children when developing or adopting initial screening and assessment instruments. Initial screening and assessment instruments shall assess the appropriate placement of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including whether placement in a safe house or safe foster home as provided in s. 409.1678 is appropriate, and shall consider, at a minimum, the following factors:

1. Risk of the child running away.

2. Risk of the child recruiting other children into the commercial sex trade.

3. Level of the child’s attachment to his or her exploiter.

4. Level and type of trauma that the child has endured.

5. Nature of the child’s interactions with law enforcement.

6. Length of time that the child was a victim of commercial sexual exploitation.

7. Extent of any substance abuse by the child.

(b) The initial screening and assessment instruments shall be validated, if possible, and must be used by the department, juvenile assessment centers as provided in s. 985.135, and community-based care lead agencies.

(c) The department shall adopt rules that specify the initial screening and assessment instruments to be used and provide requirements for their use and for the reporting of data collected through their use.

(d) The department, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and community-based care lead agencies may use additional assessment instruments in the course of serving sexually exploited children.

(2) MULTIDISCIPLINARY STAFFINGS AND SERVICE PLANS.—

(a) The department shall conduct a multidisciplinary staffing for each child who is a suspected or verified victim of commercial sexual exploitation. The department shall coordinate the staffing and invite individuals involved in the child’s care, including, but not limited to, the child, if appropriate; the child’s family or legal guardian; the child’s guardian ad litem; Department of Juvenile Justice staff; school district staff; local health and human services providers; victim advocates; and any other persons who may be able to assist the child.

(b) The staffing must use the assessment, local services, and local protocols required by this section to develop a service plan. The service plan must identify the needs of the child and his or her family, the local services available to meet those needs, and whether placement in a safe house or safe foster home is needed. If the child is dependent, the case plan required by s. 39.6011 may meet the requirement for a service plan, but must be amended to incorporate the results of the multidisciplinary staffing. If the child is not dependent, the service plan is voluntary, and the department shall provide the plan to the victim and his or her family or legal guardian and offer to make any needed referrals to local service providers.