The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking

“The form 990 was prepared by an independent cpa and is reviewed with the president and ceo and bookkeeper prior to distributing to the board for final approval. Upon approval of the board the form 990 is electronically filed.”

“Each year, the board members are asked to review the organization's conflict of interest policy which is contained both in its code of regulations and also in a certificate provided to them for signature. Among other things, the policy makes clear that all decisions of the board of the organization are made solely on the basis of a desire to promote the best interest of the organization and the public good. The conflict of interest statement requests board members to identify to the best of their knowledge any affiliations with organizations that may be potentially related to the financials or other substantive operations of the organization. They are also asked to identify circumstances involving either themselves, or a member of their extended family, that may be construed as a conflict of interest.”

“The board of directors annually evaluates the performance of the executive director. Compensation is based on performance and compared to other area mission-comparable organizations of similar size. Compensation for staff within the organization is based on performance and is in relation to other area mission-comparable organizations of similar size.”

“The organization's governing documents, form 1023, form 990 conflict of interest policy and financial statements are made available to the public upon request. The form 990 (without schedule b) can also be found on several publicly-accessible websites.”

“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”