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Home My WebLink AboutContract 39588Y SECRETARY CONTRACT NO, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Between All Church Home for Children and The City of Fort Worth, by and through its Police Department This memorandum of understanding between the All Church Home 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 All Church Home 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 All Church Home 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. OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX Page 1 of 5 Therefore, All Church Home for Children and the FWPD intend to work together toward the mutual goal of combating human trafficking in Tarrant County. The goals of this collaboration include training All Church Home for Children staff on indentifying human trafficking victims and obtaining All Church Home for Children's 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 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; Page 2 of 5 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 All Church Home for Children's services in the following ways: 1. Provide All Church Home for Children materials on emergency and long-term services to possible victims; 2. Receive training for their staff on ways to recognize and respond to signs of child abuse in order to connect possible victims to All Church Home for Children. The role of the All Church Home 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 shelter services, when needed, for rescued youth victims of human trafficking in accordance with the policies of the All Church Home for Children Emergency Youth Shelter. Page 3 of 5 All Church Home for Children 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 20009 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: z w, Jeffry (falstifad Chief of Police William Read Deputy Chief APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: ATTEST: City Seer a A All Church Home for Children Wayne Cars Chief Exec Ave Officer Date: 1 f lzdlx Contract Autho:rizatiola Date OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTK TX M&C Review Page 1 of 2 C?PfidaI SIM Uf the City of FOit UJ01 th, 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 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 A 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