Commissioners Court Meeting

Issue viewing agenda items? Click here to switch to the old format.

Return to the Search Page Return to the Agenda

Meeting Date:	10/25/2021
Trafficking Emergency Network Diversion
Submitted for:	Maria Silva	Submitted By:	Maria Silva
Department:	Community Action Agency

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to accept the Trafficking Emergency Network Diversion grant award in the amount of One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000) and enter into an agreement with the Office of the Governor; and designating the Webb County Judge as the authorized official to sign all relevant documents; and any other matters incident thereto. All required documents were sent for review through the Economic Development Department and were found to be in compliance with the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) policy. There is no cash match requirement for this grant. [Requested by Judge Selina Mireles, Child Protection Court]

Issue: Human sex trafficking is a problem that exists in South Texas but there are presently no coordinated programs and services for victims in Laredo, Texas, or in Webb County.

Solution: Hold a specialty diversion court once or twice each month to oversee the diversion of the youth and young adults into diversion trauma informed social and mental health services as well as any medical or educational services needed to assist victims.

Result: Provide trauma informed services to address the immediate needs of victims and divert them from the continued risk of sexual exploitation.

Background:

Human sex trafficking is a problem that exists in South Texas but there are presently no coordinated programs and services for victims in Laredo, Texas, or in Webb County. The proposed program, Trafficking Emergency Network Diversion (TEND), will begin to fill this void. Operated out of the Webb County Attorney’s Office and in cooperation with Judge Mireles’ Child Protective Services Court, the diversion program addresses the needs of children at risk of sex trafficking as well as the needs of children and young adults who are sex trafficked.

Previous Court Action:

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	N/A
Funding Source:	N/A
Balance:	N/A
Financial Impact:
NA