1. (1) The adult safe house must have a personnel file for each employee, which includes:

   1. (a) Identification confirming the staff’s age. Human trafficking advocates who work directly with residents in an adult safe house must be at least 18 years of age.
   2. (b) Application for employment.
   3. (c) If previously employed, an employee reference check from an employer within the past two years.
   4. (d) A minimum of two character reference letters or reference checks from an employer or individual unrelated to the applicant verifying that the applicant is suitable to work with individuals impacted by trauma.

   5. (e) Verification of background screen completion prior to hire, to include:

      1. A signed “Attestation of Good Moral Character,” form CF 1649, (June 2025), incorporated by reference and available at HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18189"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18189;

      2. Level 2 background screening pursuant to Section 435, F.S. A person who is disqualified because of the background screen may request an exemption from disqualification pursuant to Section 435.07, F.S.

   6. (f) Employee’s start and end dates for employment and reason for departing the program.
   7. (g) Annual performance evaluations and any disciplinary actions taken.
   8. (h) Training record and conferences attended.
   9. (i) A signed “Abuse and Neglect Reporting” form CF 1957, (June 2025), incorporated by reference and available at HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18190"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18190, acknowledgement forms of abuse and neglect laws, reporting requirements, and confidentiality.
2. (2) Personnel File Retention. The adult safe house must maintain personnel files for a period of five years from termination of employment.

3. (3) Qualifications. Each certified adult safe house must have at a minimum, the following positions filled by qualified staff:

   1. (a) A full-time administrator responsible for the management of the adult safe house. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years’ experience working in the human trafficking or social services field, or four years minimum experience in an administrative/management capacity and two years’ experience working in the human trafficking or social services field. The administrator must successfully complete 30 hours of human trafficking training within 90 days of their date of employment. In the event the administrator position becomes vacant, an interim administrator must be appointed until the position can be filled permanently.
   2. (b) The adult safe house must have at least one full time manager on site that supervises staff and manages all advocacy, counseling, and volunteer services. The adult safe house may determine the manager’s qualifications. The manager must successfully complete 30 hours of human trafficking training within 90 days of their date of employment.
   3. (c) The adult safe house may determine other positions and their qualifications as needed within the safe house.

4. (4) Training. The adult safe house must develop, implement, and review annually and revise as necessary a staff training and development plan to ensure that all new employees, current employees, and volunteers meet training requirements pursuant to this rule. The adult safe house may use the Department’s curriculum or submit a training curriculum for approval by the Department. Adult safe houses may use trainings approved through the accrediting body that meet the required training topics.

   1. (a) The training of each employee and volunteer must be documented in the staff member’s personnel file and must include activities or course titles, number of hours, names of instructors and title or position, and dates of completion.
   2. (b) The adult safe house must provide an orientation for all new employees during the first two weeks of their employment. This orientation must include a review of job responsibilities, adult safe house administrative procedures, confidentiality, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), program goals, adult safe house purpose and objectives, resources and services, and identification and reporting child abuse and neglect. The training hours for orientation do not count towards the 40 hours for pre-service.

   3. (c) All human trafficking advocates working with residents must receive a minimum of 40 hours of preparation training in human trafficking prior to unsupervised contact with residents, in addition to six hours of the following training:

      1. Trauma-informed care, including recognizing the signs, symptoms, and triggers of trauma and the impact of trauma;

      2. Secondary trauma and self care;

      3. Essential service delivery and collaboration;

      4. Motivational interviewing

      5. De-escalation; and

      6. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

   4. (d) In-service Training. The adult safe house must ensure that human trafficking advocates receive at least 10 hours of training activities during each full year of employment.

      1. The adult safe house must identify trainings to address deficiencies of the staff for opportunities to improve.

      2. Activities related to supervision of the advocate’s routine tasks must not be considered training for the purposes of this requirement.

      3. The training requirement is effective after the first anniversary of their employment or service.

   5. (e) Members of the governing body must complete the adult safe house orientation outlined in paragraph (b) of this subsection and the Department approved, one hour training on human trafficking within 30 days of appointment.

5. (5) Volunteers.

   1. (a) Adult safe houses that utilize volunteers to work directly with residents must develop a description of duties and specific responsibilities.
   2. (b) Each volunteer must receive the same orientation and training outlined in paragraph (4)(b) of this rule.
   3. (c) Records must reflect the documented hours and activities of volunteers.
   4. (d) Volunteers that perform the same or substantially similar services for residents as a paid employee must have the same qualifications, training, supervision and evaluation as the paid employee.
   5. (e) Volunteers that have unsupervised contact with residents will be required to meet the same background screening requirements as employees and may assert a claim to priviliged communications with residents in an adult safe house under Section 402.881, F.S.
   6. (f) Volunteers that have supervised contact with residents for more than 10 hours per month will be required to meet the same background screening requirements as employees.

Rulemaking Authority 402.881 FS. Law Implemented 402.881 FS. History-New 7-16-25.