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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
The U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Texas
and
The City of Fort Worth, by and through its Police Department
and
Mosaic Family Services, Inc.
This memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern
District of Texas, the City of Fort Worth, by and through the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD)
and Mosaic Family Services, Inc. outlines a collaborative effort to address human trafficking in
Tarrant County, Texas, demonstrating, at a minimum, a close collaboration with the victim service
provider. Thus, all signatories of this memorandum of understanding agree to do the following:
1. Build and/or enhance collaborative efforts between law enforcement and trafficking
victim service providers that leverage limited resources and strengthen, but do not
duplicate, existing trafficking victim service efforts, including:
a. Identifying and serving victims through a coordinated community response;
b. Promoting greater community public awareness and understanding of the
nature and scope of human trafficking; and
c. Developing and providing training and support for local law enforcement to
proactively identify, rescue, and place victims with service providers that: 1)
understand the complex legal and immigration issues attached to assisting
victims of human trafficking; and Z) address the complex service needs of
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OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. iNORTH, TX
human trafficking victims to ensure their safety, reduce trauma, and support
the victim's ability to work with law enforcement to hold their traffickers
accountable.
Therefore, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Texas, the FWPD, and
Mosaic Family Services, Inc. intend to work together toward the mutual goal of engaging first
responders, investigators, prosecutors and victim services providers in a collaborative
anti -trafficking team —the North Texas Anti -Trafficking Team (NTATT) task force. The goals of
the NTATT task force include the identification of victims through proactive law enforcement
activities, victim rescue, collection of evidence of criminal activity, prosecution of perpetrators, and
restoration of victims by service providers. This task force will seek to enhance law enforcement
capacity to identify victims of human trafficking, and prosecute the traffickers through a
multi -disciplinary and victim -centered approach.
The role of the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of Texas will be to
coordinate efforts in the interdiction of trafficking in its various forms, whether it is forced
prostitution, indentured servitude, peonage, or other forms of forced labor. The U.S. Attorneys
Office will work closely with the FWPD's Human Trafficking Unit in developing and maintaining
a close working relationship as well as providing assistance in coordinating the Department of
Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In particular, the U.S.
Attorneys Office will provide the technical assistance, appointing, at a minimum, one prosecutor
to each case when necessary and in connection with: 1) the civil law protections and remedies
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available to victims; 2) federal law pertaining to human trafficking statutes; and 3) prosecution of
trafficking cases. The U.S. Attorney will work closely with local District Attorneys to ensure that
cases are properly brought forth where the greatest penalties are afforded.
The role of the FWPD Human Trafficking Program under this agreement is to:
1. Provide task force coordination and support in raising awareness and capacity
among Fort Worth area law enforcement, community -based and faith based
organizations, public and private service providers, and other non -governmental
organizations (NGOs) through training, community forums, and the development of
a regional protocol for identifying and responding to human trafficking;
2. Foster collaboration between community -based organizations, members of at -risk
communities, NGOs, and law enforcement agencies through specialized training
and working group discussions;
3. Improve methods of communication between local and federal law enforcement, the
U.S. Attorneys Office, and victim service providers in the City of Fort Worth to
ensure a coordinated community response to human trafficking;
4. Conduct training for law enforcement personnel in order to enhance enforcement
efforts. Training will be provided to other law enforcement agencies, service
providers and NGOs as recommended by the NTATT; and
5. Continue striving to meet the goals of the Human Trafficking Unit upon award of
supplemental grant funds.
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The role of Mosaic Family Services, Inc. is to:
1. Gather available quantitative and qualitative statistical data, in accordance with the
Trafficking Information Management System (TIMS)9
2. Assist in the development of mutually agreed upon protocols for responding to
victims of human trafficking in the Fort Worth region; and
3. Participate in a collaborative approach with other task force members and
trafficking victim service providers to better identify and serve victims of human
trafficking.
Mosaic Family Services, Inc. also agrees to receive training, educational materials, and
ongoing technical assistance and consultations from task force members in areas such as:
1. Immigration procedures and visas available under the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000;
2. The civil law protections and remedies available to victims;
3. The cultural aspects of victim services and promoting cultural competence;
4. The federal and state human trafficking statutes; and
5. The identification of human trafficking victims.
Therefore, signatories agree to work cooperatively on the proposed project and join efforts
in meeting the immediate and long-term needs of trafficking victims to ensure effective
implementation and success of the program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The terms of this MOU will become effective on the date it is signed by
the last party.
DURATION: The terms of this MOU will remain in effect as long as needed for the
benefit of the Participants, unless terminated according to the provisions in
this MOU.
MODIFICATION: This MOU may be modified upon the mutual written consent of all
Participants.
TERMINATION: Any Participant may terminate this MOU upon 60 days written notice to the
other Participants.
Page 5 of 6
i
We the undersigned, as authorized representatives of the named agency, do hereby approve
this document.
CITY OF FORT WORTH
Tom Higgins
Assistant City Manager
Date:
leffre ffilstead
Chief of Police
William Read
Deputy Chief
Date: /2�%?�j'
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGALITY:
ATTEST:
U.S. Attorneys Office of the
Northern District of Texas
Date:
Mosaic Family Services, Inc
WLAW�m & V 71 �
Walter H. Nguyen, Pt D
Executive Director
Date: Nam/ o`Z O v
6�_<_<��
ontr.act, Authoxizatiom
Ya e 6 of 6
OF�ICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
M&C Review
Page 1 of 2
Otficiat site of the City of Port, worth, Texas
'
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 11/17/2009
DATE: 11/17/2009 REFERENCE G-16765 LOG NAME: 35HUMANTRAFFICKINGMOU
NO..
CODE: G TYPE. NON- PUBLIC NO
CONSENT HEARING.
SUBJECT: Authorize the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Fort
Worth, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas and Seven Other
Entities in Order to Continue Coordination with Members of the North Texas Anti -
Trafficking Task Force
r
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of Fort Worth and the United States Attorney for the Northern District
of Texas, Mosaic Family Services, Inc., the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dallas Division, All Church Home for
Children, Alliance for Children, Catholic Charities and SafeHaven of Tarrant County to continue
coordination with members of the North Texas Anti -Trafficking Task Force.
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Justice has awarded the City of Fort Worth supplemental funding,
authorized by M&C C-23803, to continue the Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit through
September 30, 2010. A requirement under the grant award is to revise and update all previously
executed Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Fort Worth and other participating
members of the North Texas Anti -Trafficking Task Force (NTATT). The NTATT is a collaboration
between governmental agencies and social service providers with the goal of maximizing efforts
aimed at eradicating human trafficking.
When the initial human trafficking grant award was accepted by the City in 2006, (authorized by M&C
C-21508) the City executed Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Texas and Mosaic Family Services, Inc., the Department of Homeland Security,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, All Church Home for Children, Catholic Charities and
SafeHaven of Tarrant County. It is recommended that the City update the five Memorandum of
Understandings that had previously been signed and execute a new Memorandum of Understanding
with both the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dallas Division, and Alliance for Children. Each
Memorandum of Understanding defines the role and responsibilities of the participating agencies and
remains in effect until terminated by either participant with 60 days written notice.
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Financial Management Services Director certifies that this action will have no material effect on
City funds.
TO Fund/Account/Centers FROM Fund/Account/Centers
http://apps.cfwnet.org/council_packet/mc review.asp?ID=12508&councildate=ll/17/2009 12/10/2009
M&C Review
Page 2 of 2
Submitted for City Manager's Office by:
Originating Department Head:
Additional Information Contact:
ATTACHMENTS
Tom Higgins (6192)
Jeffrey W. Halstead (4210)
Shannon Hawkins (4249)
http://apps.cfwnet.org/council�acket/mc_review.asp?ID=12508&councildate=ll /17/2009 12/10/2009