PARTNERSHIP 101

Define Your Partnership
Partnership measures acknowledge that combating human trafficking requires a comprehensive response through the cooperation of multiple sectors. Partnerships bring together diverse experiences, amplify messages, and leverage resources. For the purpose of this survey, an anti-human trafficking partnership refers to a … [e.g., a cooperative relationship between two or more organizations established for the purpose of jointly combating human trafficking in some way.]
Here are some examples of anti-trafficking partnerships around the world:
The Functions of Your Partnership
It could:
- Provide strategic coordination for human trafficking work in your area.
- Provide operational coordination for human trafficking work in your area.
- Share information and resources.
- Increase awareness of the extent of human trafficking in your area.
- Involve businesses and community members in anti-human trafficking work.
- Prioritize engagement of survivors directly in the anti-human trafficking movement.
The Membership of Your Partnership
Are there existing partnerships/networks in your area or region that you should link with? e.g. Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART). Consider creating a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Consider inviting the following types of organizations, agencies, and private companies and create a leadership structure. Here is guidance on adding members and who should be included:
- Child Welfare (CDHS)
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)
- Community-Based Advocates
- County-level human services and public health departments
- Direct Victim Services – providers may offer intervention, risk reduction, and prevention services to both direct and indirect victims and survivors of crime:
- Child abuse and neglect
- Domestic Violence
- Faith-based Organizations
- Homelessness
- Immigrant resources/rights
- Sexual assault
- First responders (Fire, EMS)
- Healthcare Providers
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement/ICE
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Assistance
- Local legislators
- Local LGBTQ+ Resources
- Local NGOs working in anti-trafficking
- Asian Pacific Development Center
- Avery Center for Research
- Covered Colorado
- Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA)
- Colorado Legal Services (CLS)
- Extended Hands of Hope
- Free Our Girls
- Hispanic Affairs Project
- Hope Academy
- Human Trafficking Center
- Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking
- Open Heart Advocates
- Restore Innocence
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
- Sarah’s Home
- SARA House
- Street’s Hope / Voluntas
- TESSA
- The Exodus Road
- National NGOs with local representation
- Native & Indigenous Organizations and Resources
- Parallel Movements – human rights and social justice movements that often intersect or run parallel to protecting and serving specific groups of individuals
- Child welfare
- Crime Victims’ Rights
- Immigrant rights
- Labor rights
- LGBTQ+ Rights
- Refugee and asylum rights
- Sex worker rights
- Probation Services
- Survivor advocates
- Survivor-led organizations
- Survivors with diverse backgrounds, identities and lived experiences
- Systems-Based Advocates
- Unions/trade groups
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Ranching
- U.S. Department of Labor and Employment
Different partnership functions involve different types of partners and methods of engagement. Here are some examples of local anti-trafficking partnership structures and governance:
- Colorado’s Human Trafficking Council (CHTC)
- The Denver Anti-trafficking Alliance (DATA)
- The Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado
Consider the following key roles in your parntership’s leadership structure:
- Coordinator
- Facilitator
- Chairperson
- Fiscal Agent
- Subject Matter Expert(s)
- Member Agency Leadership
- Subgroups to focus on specific vulnerable populations or communities
Key Partnership 101 Resources
Explore Other Sections of the Partnership Toolkit
Funding your Partnership
How will you fund your partnerships’ work? What funding sources are available to you?
Contact Colorado’s Human Trafficking Hotline Today
Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline is managed by the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. Request referrals, report tips, or get help today.