The Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse (formerly Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative), a multi-agency system improvement effort, providing funding and establishing accountability criteria for a variety of support and services, was launched in 2001. In 2006, the California State Legislature granted permanent authorization to Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse (CCAEA) through the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Act under SB 968, which mandated a multi-faceted, multi-sectorial, and coordinated approach to domestic violence. Since then, CCAEA has broadened its scope to include sexual assault, human trafficking, and stalking.
The grant funding is to be used to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist victims of human trafficking by enhancing interagency collaboration and the coordinated community response to victims of human trafficking, and through the provision of high quality services that address the individual needs of victims. Funding will support the creation of a Human Trafficking Task Force and comprehensive services for all victims of human trafficking. In addition, funding will increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities. CCAEA partners for the Human Trafficking program include: Bay Area Legal Aid, Contra Costa Health Services Department (Calli House), Community Violence Solutions, International Rescue Committee, and STAND! For Families Free of Violence.
The funding announcement requires two separate but coordinated applications from each human trafficking task force seeking funding: one application from a lead state, local, or tribal law enforcement (County Office of the District Attorney), and one application from a lead victim service organization (Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse). The two applications must be developed in close collaboration with each other and must be submitted as a pair, with each applicant naming the other as the primary partner.
The grant will increase collaboration and efficiency between systems, specifically law enforcement and victim service providers, promote community safety, and provide victim relief. Grant management may be an administrative increase for a short time period, until this grant replaces the current federal human trafficking grant through the Office of Victims of Crime, which terminates September 30, 2018.
Without funding, the goal of providing a broad range of services and resources for victims and the most diverse range of investigation and prosecution options in response to the perpetrators of human trafficking will not be available.