H.E.A.T. Watch

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

H.E.A.T. Watch is an innovative blueprint created to combat the epidemic of human exploitation and trafficking (H.E.A.T.) victimizing youth, plaguing communities and impacting business. The program brings together under one umbrella five strategies to combat targeted activities at local, regional and national levels. The strategies include 1) educating and engaging local businesses and communities; 2) enforcement training, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations; 3) the vigorous prosecution of offenders ; 4) engaging and enlisting policy makers; 5) providing services and housing to meet the specialized needs of victims. The H.E.A.T. Watch blueprint will guide communities in Alameda County in their effort to combat exploitation. It aims to be an organization of community partners cooperating to combat human trafficking. This program has thus far succeeded in passing state laws officially reclassifying many previously unrecognized sexually exploited minors as victims, in addition to facilitating further methods of intergovernmental cooperation to allow a more effective response to trafficking.