Florida ranks third in the nation for human trafficking. USF’s TIP Lab recently received $3 million in federal support. The funding will enable the development of a statewide database called TIPSTR. It will assist law-enforcement human trafficking investigations, address gaps in victim services, develop prevention programs and provide a better understanding of the magnitude and trends in human trafficking across Florida and over time. Working with their tech partner Allies Against Slavery, the TIP Lab plans to have Florida's first statewide human trafficking database by the end of 2024. The funding will also support the expansion of TIP’s BRIGHT (Bridging Resources and Information Gaps in Human Trafficking) Network—an online platform developed in close collaboration with anti-trafficking professionals and survivors that helps victims of human trafficking escape their situations and get back on their feet by streamlining efforts to connect them with organizations and resources across the state.