LAKELAND, Fla. — One More Child joined law enforcement, state agencies and community partners across Florida in Operation Statewide Shield, a five-day statewide initiative that resulted in the recovery of 163 missing children and helped ensure children had access to care and resources from the moment they were found.
According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Operation Statewide Shield was the first statewide child recovery initiative and the largest operation of its kind in Florida history. The operation, led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in partnership with the Florida Attorney General’s Office and numerous state, local and federal agencies and organizations, focused not only on locating missing children, but also on connecting vulnerable youth with critical services following their recovery.
One More Child’s Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams participated in the operation, providing immediate resources designed to offer comfort, care and support to recovered children. The organization’s teams specialize in responding to vulnerable youth, including children who have experienced or are at risk of human trafficking and exploitation.
Much of the tangible resources are provided through One More Child’s Compassion Centers supported by donors and volunteers whose efforts provide ongoing care to children as they recover.
“We are deeply grateful for the men and women who worked with urgency and determination to find these children and bring them to safety,” said Stephen Robert, president and CEO of One More Child. “This operation shows what is possible when organizations bring their different expertise to the same table with the goal of protecting children. Our commitment is to be there in those first critical moments and to continue walking alongside children who need ongoing care and support.”
Operation Statewide Shield resulted in recoveries throughout Florida, including 46 children in the Tampa Bay region, 41 in Miami, 32 in Jacksonville, 21 in Orlando, 12 in Fort Myers, eight in Pensacola and three in the Tallahassee region. The operation also extended beyond Florida, resulting in children being located or recovered in six states, one U.S. territory and 12 countries.
The children recovered ranged in age from 2 months to 17 years old. According to FDLE, many had experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation or exposure to criminal activity.
One More Child’s experience serving vulnerable youth demonstrates why the work must continue after a child has been located. It is estimated that more than 30% of children recovered in these types of operations have experienced human trafficking.
One More Child has worked alongside federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and other partner organizations on similar child recovery operations. In 2025, the organization joined the U.S. Marshals Service, multiple law enforcement agencies and other organizations for Operation Home for the Holidays, resulting in the recovery of 122 children. One More Child’s Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams operate throughout Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and beyond.
“Finding a child is an extraordinary moment, but what happens next matters tremendously,” said Jodi Domangue, chief operating officer at One More Child. “Our work lasts long after the operation, the press conference and the celebration. A child may need something as immediate as clean clothes, food or a safe place to rest. Others need specialized services to begin processing trauma and rebuilding a sense of safety and trust. One More Child walks with these children each step of the journey. We want every child to know, from the moment they are recovered, that they are valued, they are worthy of care and they are not alone.”
About One More Child:
One More Child operates in 29 states and 19 countries around the world, meeting the needs of foster children, hungry children, single moms, struggling families, sex-trafficked children and vulnerable adults. In 2025, One More Child provided direct services to 271,193 children and individuals while impacting an additional 100,692 individuals through advocacy, trainings, awareness and volunteering. One More Child provided more than 18.7 million meals nationally and globally. For more information, visit www.onemorechild.org.
###
Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General