Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force

The County of Tulare is seeking funding through the OVC FY 22 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking solicitation, under Purpose Area 2- Expansion of Established ECM Human Trafficking Task Forces. This funding will support the Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force (TCHTTF). The Tulare County District Attorney (TCDA) is the applicant and lead law enforcement agency, and is requesting $747,722 in federal funding and will match $249,241with in-kind funding with a total of $996,963 for the program. The co-applicant as victim service provider is Central California Family Crisis Center Inc. (CCFCC) and is requesting $750,000 in federal funding and will match $250,000 in kind funding for 2022 ECM to Combat Human Trafficking program.

Dr. Sandra Morgan, Director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women and Justice, has conducted assessment activities that have guided the TCHTTF in improving its performance and processes throughout previous ECM Programs. Along with the GCWJ’s Assistant Director, Derek Marsh, Dr. Morgan will continue to assess the TCHTTF throughout the 2022 ECM Program as a sub-recipient with a focus on Action Research. The TCHTTF serves Tulare County, an area with a population of 463,955 in the heart of Central California. Tulare County has some hallmarks of an area where labor trafficking occurs in this agricultural-based region, including 86,000 immigrants from Mexico residing and a
median household income at 33% below the state average.

Since funding began the task force has collectively identified 14 victims in 2019, 25 in 2020 and 51 in 2021 for a total of 90 individuals served. There were 11 investigations in year one, 9 in year two and 2 so far in our current year 3. Through 2022 ECM funding, the TCHTTF will continue its collaborative efforts to provide increased access to services for survivors, and combat human trafficking. Expected outcomes for the 2022 program include: 1) Refine current protocols and develop new protocols to support Task Force operations; 2) Strengthen and expand collaborative partnerships; 3) Work collaboratively with each other and the full-time task force coordinator; 4) Identify and conduct a range of proactive approaches for victim identification and prosecution; 5) Provide an array of comprehensive services to victims; 6) Jointly provide targeted training to numerous community groups specifically within strategic areas of need; 7) Hold frequent, regularly scheduled Task Force meetings; and 8) Support the Tulare County Coalition Against Human Trafficking(TCAHT).