NSU Horizons Spring 2016

13 NSU HORIZONS A GLOBAL SOLUTION Through their research, Gaillard- Kenney and Kent are focused on creating a model that can be replicated by other universities and communities. “We would be glad for anyone to take what we’re developing and make it their own and service victims across the country and throughout the world,” said Gaillard-Kenney. The interprofessional nature of their research, so readily available to them at Nova Southeastern University because of the many different pro- fessions, is what makes CREATE unique, the founders said. “We have not found any other university trying to pull together all of its resources to create this interprofessional approach,” said Kent. CREATE is investigating provid- ing victim services by utilizing NSU’s colleges of Dental Medicine and Optometry. “We can really approach this in a very complete and accessible manner that can truly serve all the needs of a human trafficking victim. We’ll help these individuals rebuild their lives so they can become physically, emotionally, and economically sus- tainable. We’re looking at CREATE as an opportunity to help victims improve their lives,” said Kent. At the CREATE headquarters on NSU’s Miramar Campus, donations are accepted of clothing and personal hygiene goods. Emergency backpacks were made to give to victim advocates for distribution. Miami’s Kristi House has been dedicated to helping child victims of sexual abuse for 20 years now and also has become an advocacy center for children exploited through prostitution and pornography. Claudia Kitchens, executive director of Kristi House, said CREATE is, and will be, an invaluable resource for organizations such as Kristi House. “There isn’t a large body of knowledge on how to treat young people who have been commercially sexually exploited,” said Kitchens. “As we develop a stronger relationship with Nova Southeastern University and CREATE, the evaluations and research contributed will make a global difference on how we best treat victims. Everyone is now trying to figure out best practices. CREATE has created this avenue—a collective for research and education.” For more information, contact CREATE at create@nova.edu . n From left: Sandrine Gaillard-Kenney; Brianna B. Kent; Corey Steinberg, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fort Lauderdale; and Barbara Martinez, Assistant U.S. Attorney Miami, during the grand opening of CREATE