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Y AECRETARY
®NTRACT NO,
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between
Alliance for Children
The City of Fort Worth, by and through its Police Department
This memorandum of understanding between the Alliance for Children and the City of
Fort Worth, by and through its Police Department (FWPD), outlines a collaborative effort to
address human trafficking in Tarrant County, Texas, demonstrating, at a minimum, a close
collaboration between the FWPD and Alliance for Children. Thus, all parties to this
memorandum of understanding agree to do the following:
1. Work together to combat the issue of human trafficking in Tarrant County;
2. Establish appropriate protocol which Alliance for Children can follow in
informing the FWPD of possible victims; and
3. Build and/or enhance collaborative efforts between law enforcement and
trafficking victim service providers that leverage limited resources and
strengthens, but does not duplicate, existing human trafficking victim service
efforts, including:
a. Identifying and serving victims through a coordinated community
response; and
b. Promoting greater community public awareness and understanding of the
nature and scope of human trafficking.
OFFfCiAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT.eT�bf
Therefore, Alliance for Children and the FWPD intend to work together toward the
mutual goal of combating human trafficking in Tai7CA County. The goals of this collaboration
include Alliance for Children staff assisting the Human Trafficking Unit on properly
interviewing child victims of trafficking and FWPD providing comprehensive training to
Alliance for Children's staff on indicators and factors in human trafficking. This collaboration
between a local victim service provider and the FWPD seeks to enhance the victim centered
approach to rescuing victims of severe forms of trafficking.
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
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, Non Governmental Organizations (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;
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4. Conduct training for law enforcement to enhance enforcement efforts. Training will
be provided to other law enforcement agencies, service providers and NGOs as
recommended by the North Texas Anti -Trafficking Taskforce k.L q4 ; and
5. Continue striving to meet program goals upon award of supplemental grant funds.
The FWPD Human Trafficking Unit also agrees to help connect possible victims to
Alliance for Children's services in the following ways:
1. Provide educational materials on forensic interviews and other clinical services
Alliance for Children provides the community;
2. Receive training for their staff on ways to recognize and respond to signs of child
abuse in order to connect possible victims to Alliance for Children.
The role of Alliance for Children is to:
1. Connect suspected trafficking victims to the FWPD's Human Trafficking Unit;
2. Assist in the development of mutually agreed upon protocols for responding to
victims of human trafficking in the Fort Worth region;
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; and
4. Provide forensic interviewing services for children suspected to have been
trafficked and provide referrals to other service providers, when appropriate, in
accordance with Alliance for Children policies.
Page 3 of 5
Alliance for Children also agrees to receive comprehensive training, educational
materials, and ongoing technical assistance and consultations from task force members in areas
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 to 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 both
Participants.
TERMINATION: Either Participant may terminate this MOU upon 60 days written notice
to the other Participant.
Page 4 of 5
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:
Jeffralst d
Chief of Police
William Read
Deputy Chief
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGALITY:
Date:
i
ATTEST:
Date
City Secretary
Alliance for Children
Nancy Ha
Executive
OFFICIAL RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX
M&C Review
Page 1 of 2
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 11/17/2009
Official site of the City oP FOR. VVot th, i exas
NON- PUBLIC
CODE: G TYPE: CONSENT HEARING: NO
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
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 bk
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