New Member Orientation
ABOUT THE COALITION
The HOTHTC stakeholders serve the Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties. Membership is available for representatives from regulatory agencies, social service agencies, victim service providers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and criminal justice system-based victim assistance components.
COALITION GOALS
Partner agencies within the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition and Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Task Force are committed to collaborate in the fight against human trafficking by:
Increase community awareness for the prevention and identification of human trafficking victims,
Increasing investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases at a local, state, and federal level, and
Providing coordinated, comprehensive, trauma-informed services to meet the individualized needs of human trafficking victims
COALITION STRUCTURE
Many service providers and law enforcement agencies work together to fight human trafficking in the coalition. The Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition (HOTHTC) is led by the HOTHTC Chair and the Steering Committee.
The Coalition meets for quarterly roundtables to share information and increase knowledge of trafficking-related topics. Bi-monthly subcommittees also meet to accomplish tasks in specific areas. These subcommittees are: Prevention, Protection & Prosecution, Partnership, and Program Evaluation. The co-Chair members from each of these subcommittees serve on the Steering Committee.
STEERING COMMITTEE
The Steering Committee, also referred to as the Task Force, consists of leaders in the six-county area that are active in the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition and are engaged in accomplishing its objectives. Leaders could include heads of law enforcement agencies, directors of victim service provision agencies, elected local and state prosecutors, and other community leaders as necessary. All Subcommittee Co-Chairs are included in the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee is responsible for accomplishing the objectives of the Task Force and approving potential new Task Force members and Subcommittee Co-Chairs.
KEY COALITION POSITIONS/ROLES
In addition to the co-chairs of each subcommittee, key positions in the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition have been identified as essential to accomplishing the coalition goals. None of these key positions are funded by the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition. Partner agencies contribute key personnel in the positions listed below to facilitate the work of the coalition:
Coalition Chair - Susan Peters (susan.peters@unboundnow.org)
Regional Care Coordinator - Sarah Hopping (shopping@advcycntr.org)
Task Force Coordinator - Julie Cash (julie.cash@hothtc.org)
PARTNERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE
The Partnership Subcommittee includes representatives from agencies in the coalition who provide services to human trafficking victims.
PREVENTION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Prevention sub-committee is public/community-based, purposed to engage community members in education and training regarding human trafficking.
PROGRAM EVALUATION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Program Evaluation Subcommittee consists of coalition members tasked with the collection of data and with analyzing that data to evaluate the effectiveness of the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition.
PROTECTION & PROSECUTION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Protection and Prosecution Subcommittee consists of law enforcement officers as well as representatives from the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office, FBI, Homeland Security, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and private attorneys. Members of the committee work together to share relevant information as well as strategize to improve collaboration within the law enforcement community in fighting human trafficking in Central Texas.
PARTICIPATION
Coalition partner agencies are expected to actively participate in coalition activities, including Roundtable meetings, subcommittee meetings and other training and public awareness activities. Coalition partners are encouraged to collaborate with other agencies and initiate contact to give or receive assistance or training.
PARTICIPATION LEVELS:
In joining the coalition, applicants select their desired level of involvement:
High Level - Participate in Quarterly Roundtable, Bi-Monthly Subcommittee, Coalition Events
Medium Level - Participate in Quarterly Roundtable
Low Level - Email List
LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT
Expected levels of engagement depend on members’ role in the coalition, the involvement level of the agency represented by a coalition member, and/or the members personal commitment to the coalition. The levels of engagement are depicted in the graphic below.
Level 1: The HOTHTC is a recipient of an Enhanced Collaborative Grant provided by the Office of Victims of Crimes. ACCVC and Unbound Waco have been awarded partial funding for specific positions whose job description includes providing higher contributions to achieving coalition and committee goals. The expectations for Level 1 (Grant Funded Staff) are as follows:
Attend HOTHTC Roundtable events
Attend all committee meetings pertinent to job description
Participate in or send a representative to events planned or hosted by subcommittee
Actively participate in reaching committee goals and objectives
Participate in all HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Level 2: Steering Committee members consist of selected community leaders and subcommittee co-chairs. Because subcommittee co-chairs also conduct subcommittee meetings, their involvement expectations are higher. The expectations of each are as follows:
Steering Committee Members:
Provide leadership in the deciding goals and direction of the HOTHTC
Attend HOTHTC Roundtable events
Attend or send representation to Steering Committee meetings
Support HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Subcommittee co-Chairs:
Provide leadership in reaching subcommittee goals and objectives
Attend or send a representative to HOTHTC Roundtable events
Attend or send a representative to all subcommittee meetings and the Steering Committee meetings
Provide subcommittee updates to the Steering Committee
Collaborate with task force coordinator to set annual committee goals, prepare meeting agendas, and assess results
Moderate subcommittee meetings
Participate in or send a representative to events planned or hosted by subcommittee
Support HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Level 3: Subcommittee members primarily include representatives from agencies that work closely with human trafficking advocates in serving victims and with the grant funded Outreach Coordinator in Human Trafficking training of the community. Subcommittee members also include those who voluntarily want to serve on a subcommittee and representatives of key agencies in the coalition whose work would relate to human trafficking in some way. Their expected involvement is as follows:
Partner Agency Representatives:
Responsible for integrating the MOU partner agency into being a part of meeting the subcommittee goals and objectives
Attend or send an agency representative to all HOTHTC Roundtable events
Attend or send a representative to all subcommittee meetings
Support HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Voluntary Subcommittee Members:
Attend or send an agency representative to all HOTHTC Roundtable events
Attend or send an agency representative to at least 50% of the subcommittee meetings
Support HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Level 4: This level includes all other coalition members who have selected “Medium” participation in the coalition.
Attend or send an agency representative to at least 50% of the HOTHTC Roundtable events
Support HOTHTC events and outreach efforts
Level 5: This level applies to agency volunteers and community members who would have some involvement with agencies in the coalition. The table below describes the expected level of participation.
LEVEL 5: Non-HOTHTC Member Involvement Expectation
Agency Interns
Spends set number of hours per week for agencies in a defined role (Ex: Graduate student working as a Survivor Advocacy Intern)
Community Volunteer
Assists with coordinating and carrying out outreaches and events (ex: Participation in the NIMC event)
Community Partner
Is aware of the signs of human trafficking and the HOTHTC and utilizes contacts within the coalition.
POLICIES & PROCEDURES REGARDING VICTIMS & SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
INFORMATION SHARING & DATA COLLECTION
HOTHTC is committed to the protection and appropriate sharing of case information for the safety and confidentiality of victims.
For the safety and service of victim(s), agencies are encouraged do the following options:
Contact the Regional Care Coordinator upon suspicion or identification of trafficking victim(s). The Regional Care Coordinator will contact coalition partner victim service provider(s) in order to provide support and services to victim(s) as soon as possible.
When the Regional Care Coordinator or other victim service provider learns relevant information pertaining to human trafficking, they will notify law enforcement, with informed consent from the potential victim. In the case of a minor, law enforcement will be notified immediately. If law enforcement needs assistance for the placement of the victim, they are encouraged to share basic information needed with the appropriate service provider who will secure safe placement.
CONFIDENTIALITY
HOTHTC member partners will respect the confidentiality of all potential and confirmed human trafficking victims, according to their agency’s policies. Information will only be shared on a need-to-know basis for the purpose of serving victims of human trafficking and according to mandatory reporting requirements.
The Regional Care Coordinator will track victim service information. Each agency is encouraged to maintain a MOU with relevant partner agencies for the sharing of victim information.
When a potential victim is identified by a non-law enforcement HOTHTC member, the victim should be advised of their right to confidentiality and privacy. If possible, minimal central demographic information and information regarding what services the victim/client requests and uses should be collected, including gender, age or age range, ethnicity, immigration status, number of children, types of services requested, and types of services provided.
This information should be provided to the Regional Care Coordinator for case tracking purposes. More extensive intake information may be documented by the service provider(s), after the victim has given consent, according to information-sharing MOUs between victim service providers. Information will remain protected by the agency’s confidentiality policies and practices, unless the victim specifically, in writing, authorizes the sharing of that information between partner agencies. If the victim is a minor, the victim’s parent, legal guardian, or attorney ad litem may sign a Release of Information (ROI) on their behalf. A number and/or a pseudonym will be assigned to each victim, and a victim’s true name will not be disclosed to coalition partners without the victim’s written consent.
REFERRALS OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS
Upon identification of a potential victim, coalition member agencies are encouraged to contact the Regional Care Coordinator, who will contact a case manager to provide an intake and eligibility assessment to determine if the individual is a victim of a severe form of trafficking (under TVPA definition). Depending on the eligibility of the victim, a case manager will be assigned, and a needs assessment and/or individualized service plan will be completed. The victim will then be referred to other service(s), as needed.
The agency assignment for case management of the victim will depend on the victim’s situation (i.e. their location, age, immigration status, custody/guardianship, etc.). If the victim is a foreign national, they will be referred to a legal immigration service provider who can assist them in legal matters. The assigned case manager should provide data to the Regional Case Coordinator on the victim’s location, progress, and services recommended and received on at least a monthly basis.
If any victim/client referrals to non-HOTHTC member service providers are warranted, such referrals will be made in a way as to preserve confidential victim information. For example, referrals to member and non-member providers can be made by giving the victim the contact information of the provider so he/she can contact the agency directly.
Please review the Policies and Procedures section of the HOTHTC website for additional information.