HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 39588-A1 (4)CITY SECRETARY
CONTRACT NO.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between
ACH Child and Family Services
and
The City of Fort Worth, by and through its Police Department
This memorandum of understanding between the ACH Child and Family Services 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 ACH Child and Family Services. 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 ACH Child and Family Services 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
eSorts, 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.
OFFiCiAIL R%CORD
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, TX Page 1 of 5
Therefore, ACH. Child and Family Services and the FWPD intend to work together
toward the mutual goal of combating human trafficking in Tarrant County. The goals of this
collaboratioAl include training ACH Child and Family Services staff on indentifying human
trafficking victims and obtaining ACH Child and Family Services' assistance in referring
possible victims of human trafficking to the FWPD. 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 Trafficl�ing 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 (NTATT); 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 ACH
Child and Family Services' in the following ways:
1. Provide ACH Child and Family Services mate rials on emergency and long-term
services to possible victims; and
2. Receive training for their staff on ways to recognize and respond to signs of child
abuse in order to connect possible victims to ACH Child and Family Services.
The role of the ACH Child and Family Services 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 shelter services, when needed, for rescued youth victims of human
trafficking in accordance with the policies of the ACH Child and Family Services
Emergency Youth Shelter.
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ACH Child and Family Services also agrees to receive training, educational materials,
and ongoing technical assistance and consultations from task force members in areas such as:
l.. 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 %J 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.
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We the undersigned, as authorized representatives of the named agency, do hereby
approve this document.
CITY OF FORT WORTH
(at
ww
Jefffey Hal tead
Chief of Police
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGALITY:
Monica Wofford Wood
Date:
ATTEST:
City Secretary
OFFt�IAL ���►�+►fit��
CITY S�CR�TA�tY
FTW
ACH Child and Family Services
Wayne Car n
Chief Exe tive Officer
Date:
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