122 Children Rescued: MoreTooLife/MoreToLiving Coordinates Victim/Trauma-Responsive Care for USMS Operation Hom Holidays

November 24, 2025

122 Children Rescued: MoreTooLife/MoreToLiving Coordinates Victim/Trauma-Responsive Care for USMS Operation Hom Holidays

November 24, 2025

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, UNITED STATES, November 24, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The United States Marshals Service (USMS) successfully concluded a two-week youth recovery initiative, Operation Home for the Holidays, resulting in the safe location or recovery of 122 missing or endangered children across Florida and in nine other states. The success of this multi-disciplinary effort, which ranks among the largest of its kind, was directly tied to the integration of victim-focused care coordinated by MTL, a non-governmental partner, ensuring children received immediate, trauma-informed support.

The joint task force, comprising a diverse array of federal, state, and local law enforcement, alongside non-governmental organizations (NGOs), concentrated its efforts across Central Florida, proactively locating vulnerable youth from the following metropolitan areas:
Tampa Bay: 57
Fort Myers: 29
Jacksonville: 22
Orlando: 14
(*Figure denotes the number of youth located or recovered in each metropolitan area.)

More Too Life: Centering Victim Care
Building upon lessons learned from USMS Operation Dragon Eye (2025), Operation Home for the Holidays was unique in its emphasis on rapid access to essential child services. The planning process dedicated significant resources to securing immediate, personalized care for the recovered youth. More Too Life, a leading advocate and direct service provider for victims of human trafficking and sexual violence, played a pivotal role in organizing and delivering these critical victim services.

More Too Life's trauma-responsive approach ensured that every recovered child and young person was met with compassionate care, moving beyond mere recovery to focused healing.

[Quote from More Too Life CEO/Founder, e.g., Brook Parker-Bello]: "The recovery of 122 children is a powerful victory for law enforcement. Our role, alongside other dedicated NGOs, was to ensure that the moment these children were safe, they were immediately wrapped in a network of comprehensive, trauma-responsive care.

{Quote from More too Life, Law Enforcement Advocacy Specialist, Kim Figueroa}
“To the victims, we see you, for our law enforcement officers, we thank you and to our community organizations standing with us, your compassion and expertise are indispensable”

Comprehensive Care and Immediate Triage
The task force and NGO partners coordinated an immediate and extensive suite of child welfare services, ensuring critical needs were addressed upon recovery. A significant portion of the recovered youth population received initiative-specific services, including:
Service Provided
Number of Youth Served*
Health Care Services (including medical and mental health)
66
Department of Children and Families Coordination
41
Department of Juvenile Justice Coordination
29

(*Figure denotes the number of youth provided with initiative specific child services.)

Restoring Hope: Personal Stories of Service

Operation Home for the Holidays provided life-changing care and opportunities, illustrating the indispensable value of integrated social services:
Pre-Natal Care: A young pregnant female received pre-natal care for the first time, ensuring the health and safety of both mother and unborn child.
Substance Dependency Treatment: Two brothers were provided initial care for substance dependency and are currently being evaluated for ongoing treatment options.
International Coordination: A toddler was safely located in Mexico, with U.S. and Mexican authorities coordinating a care plan that best suits the interest of the child.
Secure Relocation: A young woman who identified safety concerns to child welfare officers was voluntarily relocated and placed in a secure home.
Trauma-Informed Support: A young man with a significant juvenile justice history was, for the first time, provided with services pertaining to his alleged abuse, addressing the root cause of his legal involvement.

Criminal Investigations and Ongoing Work
The recovered youth, whose ages ranged from 23 months to 17 years old, disclosed experiences relating to various types of abuse and proximity to other criminal activity. The information developed by the task force led to six felony arrests ranging from child neglect, custodial interference, narcotics possession, sexual assault, failure to register as a sex offender, terroristic threats, and endangerment. Several other criminal investigations predicated upon Operation Home for the Holidays are pending, and additional felony arrests are anticipated.

The USMS and its partners remain committed to holding abusers accountable and protecting the vulnerable. The success of this operation underscores the power of strong partnerships between law enforcement and victim service organizations like More Too Life. Donate to save a life today @ https://give-usa.keela.co/preview/E2wWtoJcpr3DjXvu8

About More To Living (More Too Life)

More To Living, formerly More Too Life (MTL), founded in 2003 and incorporated in 2005, is a nationally recognized, survivor-led organization and a powerful voice for victims and survivors of human trafficking, exploitation, and sexual violence, as well as high-risk youth. For more than two decades, MTL has delivered comprehensive, trauma-responsive services rooted in dignity, restoration, and long-term healing.

Through a proven continuum of care, MTL provides intensive case management, trauma-informed mental and behavioral health services, mentoring, court advocacy, housing and stabilization assistance, and specialized programs designed to support survivors through every phase of recovery—from crisis response to independence. Our mission is to empower individuals to move beyond harm, breaking cycles of trauma by transforming victims into survivors, and ultimately champions and leaders in their communities.

In addition to direct care, MTL is a national leader in prevention and demand-reduction strategies, including RJEDE – Restorative Justice End-Demand Education, and its faith-based counterpart, Kingdom Sons: The Legacy of Fatherhood, which equips men and young men with the tools to choose integrity, accountability, and healthy identity.
Learn more about Kingdom Sons here:https://stan.store/KingdomSonsLegacyofFatherhood

MTL/More To Living continues to ignite systemic change through education, advocacy, innovation, and survivor-led leadership, reshaping the future of prevention, healing, and justice.

MTL/More To Living continues to ignite systemic change through education, advocacy, innovation, and survivor-led leadership, reshaping the future of prevention, healing, and justice.

For media inquiries or to learn more and to donate please go to moretoolife.org


Brook Parker-Bello

MORE TOO LIFE

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More Too Life Instrumental in Coordinating Care for Rescued Victims During Historic U.S. Marshals Operation

By Brook Parker-Bello • July 1, 2025
SARASOTA, FL, UNITED STATES, July 1, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- More Too Life , a nationally recognized counter-human exploitation and victim advocacy organization, played a critical role in providing comprehensive care and support to children recovered during the recent U.S. Marshals-led Operation DRAGON EYE. The groundbreaking operation resulted in the recovery and safe location of 60 critically missing children across multiple Florida counties. The two-week multi-agency operation, described by the U.S. Marshals Service as the most successful missing-child recovery effort in its history, targeted high-risk youth vulnerable to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, and drug abuse. Following the recovery, More Too Life was instrumental in coordinating wraparound services, including trauma-informed crisis response, survivor mentorship, emergency housing, advocacy, and access to mental health care. “We didn’t just help recover victims—we began the process of restoring lives,” said Dr. Brook Parker-Bello, Founder and CEO of More Too Life. This operation was a well-coordinated and collaborative effort, and More Too Life is honored to have played a role in these successful efforts that have made a significant impact in the lives of vulnerable youth. We are grateful to the U.S. Marshals and all our law enforcement partners for trusting us to help these children begin a path toward healing and empowerment.” As part of the coordinated care response, More Too Life worked directly with law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, and other NFO’a to ensure every rescued youth received individualized attention and compassionate services. Operation DRAGON EYE, led by the U.S. Marshals Middle District of Florida, covered Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. It resulted in eight arrests related to human trafficking, child endangerment, and drug-related offenses. Of the 60 children recovered, several were identified as survivors of trafficking or exploitation. More Too Life’s involvement was pivotal in their stabilization and next-phase recovery planning. This operation underscores the importance of nonprofit partnerships in public safety. The success of Operation DRAGON EYE demonstrates the urgent need for holistic, trauma-informed interventions and reinforces More Too Life’s mission to protect and empower survivors of trafficking and exploitation.