Tara Rodas

A Voice for Vulnerable Children

Tara Rodas serves on the Advisory Board of Shepherd’s Watch, bringing more than 22 years of federal service experience, including nearly two decades within the Inspector General community. In 2021, she answered the call to support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Unaccompanied Children Program, where she quickly became a subject matter expert in identifying sponsor fraud and indicators of child trafficking.

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While serving as Deputy to the Director of the Federal Case Management Team at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake Site, Tara identified serious red flags involving gang affiliated sponsors and trafficking risks. Her protected disclosures to the Department of Justice and the HHS Office of Inspector General led to federal investigations, congressional testimony, and criminal referrals to federal law enforcement.

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Tara has testified before both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate regarding the exploitation crisis involving unaccompanied children. She continues to advocate for accountability, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable minors. Her distinguished career reflects courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to defending children from exploitation.