So what will it take to eradicate human trafficking in your local community? Who all must participate, and what must be done? Community coalitions are uniquely positioned to make a difference. This Toolkit will show you how.
When we engage together, miracles can happen on behalf of those in need. We witness it every day, and we are here to serve as a friend to your efforts as well.
Now, let's begin!
Ashleigh S. Chapman, J.D.
President/CEO, Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice®
Greetings
COMMUNITY TOOLKIT | 4
identify key points for further learning, and use these examples to brainstorm about how your coalition is best equipped to engage.
Complete a Community Assessment. Explore what efforts are already underway in your local community
and what gaps may still exist.
(See p8)
Explore your community's strengths and needs. See pages 23-24 to discover how a community can leverage their strengths to meet needs.
Build relationships with those already serving in the field across sectors (e.g. businesses, nonprofits, faith-based ministries, foundations, government agencies, universities, etc.) and disciplines (e.g. nurses, teachers, law enforcement, lawyers, and more).
Host a planning session. Review the Tips for Success for
both new and existing coalitions.
Create a plan of action unique to your community's needs, strengths, and abilities.
Getting Started
It is important to understand that human trafficking manifests itself differently in every state, city, and community all across the world. Human trafficking affects adults, minors, citizens, foreign nationals, men, women, and children. Certain forms of human trafficking may be more prevalent in your area, and certain demographics may be more vulnerable.
To succeed, your coalition will need to develop a plan of action that is specific to your community’s strengths and needs. Before developing your coalition’s strategy – or enhancing your current efforts – we encourage you to do the following:
Review the Freedom Strategy. The Freedom Strategy developed by the AFRJ defines all the areas of focus that must be addressed simultaneously within your community in order to eradicate human trafficking and to protect the vulnerable. (See p7)
Review each section of the Community Toolkit. Review the ideas, strategies, and information detailed in this Toolkit and the resources referenced in the footnotes and online at engagetogether.com/communityresources. Take notes on ideas and concepts that stand out to you,
For more information on Ideas
How do we eradicate human trafficking in our communities? What all must be addressed and who all must participate?
Answers to these questions and ideas for how your Community is uniquely positioned to combat human trafficking are described in the following pages.
Access all footnoted
resources and Commu
-
nity Assessment Tools
at
© Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice, Inc.®
COMMUNITY TOOLKIT | 5
© Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice, Inc.®
Tips for Success
The broader the base of community support for your coa-lition, the more time, resources, and personnel that will be available to assist your efforts. Establishing a core leadership team will also reinforce the structure of the coalition and progress its goals.
COORDINATOR
A coalition is most effective when a designated individual (or two) serves as a coordinator. This role provides consistent representation, administration, and communication for the coalition. Having a main point of contact ensures there is at least one person up to date about all local developments and community efforts, and also provides a dedicated per-son to build needed relationships, to find needed resources, and to keep moving your coalition’s strategy forward.
MISSION & VISION
It is important to create a clear mission statement that iden-tifies your goals, purpose, and objectives. A clear mission empowers your coalition members to share the vision, to understand how to participate effectively, and to assess your collective impact along the way.
MEMBERSHIP
Coalition membership can be as formal or informal as your coalition desires. Specific projects and initiatives may require formal memorandums of understanding (MOU) while attendance at general meetings and participation in sub-committees may be open to the general public. And
The Engage Together® Community Toolkit is designed to support the formation of new coalitions or to enhance the efforts of already existing coalitions. Below, we highlight a number of tips and best practices from coalitions nationwide.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
There are typically two types of organizational structure for collaborative community efforts. The most successful com-munities usually incorporate both.
Coalition – a group of organizations, professionals, and concerned citizens that work together toward achieving unified community goals and supporting each other’s existing efforts.
Task Force – primarily consists of law enforcement and service providers focused on investigative efforts and case management.
Regardless of the organizational structure, the key is to have all sectors from the community partic- ipating, sharing their experiences and resources, and aiding in the development and execution of the coalition’s action plan.
LEADERSHIP
Coalitions can fall under the direction of a city or county, can be led by a single organization or as a joint effort among several organizations, or may be formed by a group of con-cerned individuals.
Your coalition AND each of the
members who make up your
group are all in unique positions
to make a difference. Be mindful
to leverage both your collective and
individual strengths
.