Organization: THE COLLABORATIVE TO END
Mission: THE MISSION OF THE COLLABORATIVE IS TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PREVENTION AND ABOLITION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHILE CONNECTING SERVICES ON BEHALF OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS.
Activities: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS TODAY'S PRACTICE OF SLAVERY. IT IS INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE AND IT IS HAPPENING TODAY AROUND THE WORLD, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND IN OHIO. THOSE SUBJECTED TO THE CRIME ARE EXPLOITED THROUGH FORCED LABOR AND COMMERCIAL SEX FOR ANOTHER'S FINANCIAL GAIN. VICTIMS INCLUDE CHILDREN AND ADULTS, MEN AND WOMEN, AND U.S. CITIZENS AS WELL AS FOREIGN BORN INDIVIDUALS. THE COLLABORATIVE TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING ("COLLABORATIVE") IN NORTHEAST OHIO SUPPORTS THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT TO FREEDOM BY EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PREVENTION AND ABOLITION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHILE CONNECTING SERVICES ON BEHALF OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS. THE COLLABORATIVE IMPLEMENTS ITS MISSION THROUGH: 1) PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE REALITY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN TODAY'S WORLD, TO ENABLE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE PUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE THE RED FLAGS OF TRAFFICKING SO THAT VICTIMS/SURVIVORS ARE IDENTIFIED AND HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES, AND TO FURTHER DEVELOP RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED; 2) ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS AND THOSE VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING, INCLUDING PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE; 3) LEADERSHIP OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUP OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THE CRIME AND TO THOSE SUBJECTED TO IT IN NORTHEAST OHIO. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLABORATIVE'S PROGRAMMING INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. SINCE 2007, THE COLLABORATIVE HAS PRESENTED THOUSANDS OF EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAMS/DISPLAYS TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS GROUPS, REFUGEES AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN TELLING THE STORIES OF THE WOMEN, MEN, AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED, COERCED, OR TRICKED INTO SERVITUDE, THE COLLABORATIVE IS RAISING AWARENESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SO THAT VICTIMS/SURVIVORS ARE IDENTIFIED AND HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES. BECAUSE THE CRIME OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING REQUIRES A VICTIM-CENTERED, MULTI- DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE, THE COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPED AND IS LEADING GREATER CLEVELAND'S COORDINATED RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING ("GCCRHT"). GCCRHT IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUP OF 60 AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTHEAST OHIO IN A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED WAY. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENT GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICE, CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS, HIGHER EDUCATION AND BUSINESS. THE GOALS OF GCCRHT INCLUDE RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE CRIME, EDUCATING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND DEVELOPING A COORDINATED RESPONSE TO VICTIMS/SURVIVORS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS. THE COLLABORATIVE'S "HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENS HERE TOO" PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN RAISING AWARENESS OF THE CRIME SINCE 2016. THE ONGOING CAMPAIGN INCLUDES SIGNAGE ON GREATER CLEVELAND RTA BUSES AND BILLBOARDS ACROSS CUYAHOGA COUNTY, AT CLEVELAND HOPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND ON PRINTED MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. ALL OF THE SIGNAGE REFERS READERS TO HAPPENSHERETOO.ORG WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING; HOTLINES TO CALL FOR VICTIM SUPPORT AND/OR LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTION; LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL RESOURCES; AND A LISTING OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND BUSINESSES IN GCCRHT. THE CAMPAIGN IS FUNDED BY VOCA (VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT) GRANT DOLLARS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND BY PRIVATE GRANTS AND DONATIONS. THE COLLABORATIVE ALSO DEVELOPED A TRAINING VIDEO AND MANUAL FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, GUIDELINES FOR TREATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: A RESOURCE FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN NORTHEAST OHIO. IT DID SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SANE NURSES, EMERGENCY ROOM NURSES, AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEMS IN CLEVELAND. THIS TRAINING VIDEO AND MANUAL ASSIST HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN RECOGNIZING THE RED FLAGS OF TRAFFICKING, RESPONDING TO VICTIMS/ SURVIVORS IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED MANNER, AND KNOWING WHOM TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE EDUCATIONAL NETWORKS OF MAJOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN CLEVELAND. THE PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE CHAR AND CHUCK FAMILY FOUNDATION. IN MAY 2018, THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OHIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SENT A LETTER TO OHIO HOSPITALS URGING THEM TO DEVELOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESPONSE PROTOCOLS AND REFERRED THEM TO THE COLLABORATIVE FOR THESE TRAINING MATERIALS. THE COLLABORATIVE RECENTLY FINALIZED A TICKET BOX CARD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS CARD HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO AN ESTIMATED 80 LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS IN NORTHEAST OHIO. THESE INFORMATIONAL CARDS WERE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF GCCRHT'S PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE. THE CARDS SERVE AS A QUICK REFERENCE FOR OFFICERS, ASSISTING THEM IN IDENTIFYING HUMAN TRAFFICKING SITUATIONS AND IN EMPLOYING SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES. DEVELOPMENT OF SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES FOR FIRE/EMS DEPARTMENTS IS IN PROCESS. THE COLLABORATIVE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE OHIO HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, CONDUCT TRAININGS, AND CONNECT HOTELS WITH LOCAL RESOURCES REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WITH THESE PARTNERS, THE COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPED SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICES FOR THE LODGING INDUSTRY AND MEMORIALIZED THEM IN A POSTER FOR HOTELS. DISTRIBUTION OF THE POSTERS IS UNDERWAY ACROSS OUR REGION AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY STAFF TRAINING SESSION. THE COLLABORATIVE HAS BEEN OUR COMMUNITY'S CALL TO ACTION REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING SINCE 2007 AND THE OPERATIVE WORD IN OUR NAME IS "COLLABORATIVE." WE RECOGNIZE THAT ONLY IN PARTNERSHIP CAN WE EVER HOPE TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
NTEE category: Crime & Legal-Related
Secondary category: Human Services