Vania Aguilar, M.S.
Ms. Aguilar is a program manager at CAHR, where she oversees the administrative work of the Center. She has been working with the Center since 2001. She conducts trainings on human trafficking for various groups in the community. In addition, she oversees the Center’s case management and service provision for human trafficking victims and victims of other crimes. She has developed curriculum for the Florida Department of Education and Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Education on human trafficking. She was granted DOJ Accreditation in 2013 and is presenting clients with their VAWA, DACA, Adjustment of Status, asylum, SIJS, TPS, U and T visa application submissions. She has assisted over 300 refugees adjust their status to lawful permanent residence and helps them apply for their citizenship.
She has established direct connections with prosecutors, victim advocates and law enforcement officials throughout the state. She works very closely with them to secure the necessary documentation to apply for immigration relief for clients who are victims of crimes and to apply for any other forms of relief under the Victim’s Compensation Program.
She serves as a co-chair for the Big Bend Coalition Against Human Trafficking Survivor Support Committee. On behalf of the coalition, she has written co-eds, has participated on radio show interviews to discuss how Florida is affected by human trafficking, conducted presentations and outreach initiatives. In addition, she serves on the Social Justice Committee of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center, a non-profit that assists victims and survivors of human trafficking in the second judicial circuit.
She received a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education from Florida State University. In addition to working for the CAHR, Ms. Aguilar taught for Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Tallahassee from 2005 to 2022 where she taught evening classes to English learners from around the world. She was the lead teacher for the on-line English classes at ACE. She conducted classes for adult students in which she incorporated information about services and remedies for victims of various crimes including human trafficking and prepared students for their citizenship process. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate degree in Learning Design and Performance Technology.