Overview
The Oklahoma Coalition Against Human Trafficking (OCAT) is composed of advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, child protection workers, victim service providers, medical professionals, educators, and community and faith leaders who are working to combat human trafficking.
Membership in OCAT is open to any organization, business, agency, governmental entities, or community member representative of any faith, ethnic or racial background, political view, sexual orientation, and gender identity that meet the below requirements.
While we welcome national collaboration, members outside of Oklahoma that want to join above friends of OCAT level must demonstrate how their mission impacts Oklahomans.
Once you or your organization becomes a member there are MANY ways to get involved. We have numerous workgroups available as well as events throughout the year.
Learn more about joining OCAT below:
Workgroups
Workgroups are time-limited and goal oriented. They are designed to carry out the work of the strategic plan. Workgroups will be evaluated annually to determine if their goals have been completed or if new workgroups should be developed. Current workgroups include:
Professional Education
Develop consistent, trauma informed and data-driven assessment and education tools.
Youth Response
Identify support services for youth at risk who are currently or have previously experienced exploitation to move toward recovery.
Resource Development
Develop current resources guides while identifying gaps in resources.
Policy and Data
Monitor, analyze and propose legislation at the local, state and federal levels as well as keeping OCAT members updated on legislation. Plan and implement activities to engage policy makers such as legislative breakfast/luncheons, meet and greet at the Capitol, present at policy gatherings, individual meetings with policy makers, etc.
Law Enforcement Officer/Survivor Engagement
Provide a format for law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and survivors to discuss, listen and learn from each other.
Law Enforcement
Stay up-to-date on current trends through active investigations and educating other committee and project group members on trends, victim needs, and law enforcement needs, to successfully prosecute offenders and traffickers.
Administrative Deliverables
Develop administrative processes and protocols for OCAT including (1) community needs assessment, (2) new member orientation, (3) evaluation, (4) OCAT governance (5) standards of care. Each deliverable will be a separate time-limited project.
Medical Prevention/Intervention
Create a networks of medical professional that are equipped to identify and provide evidence-based, trauma-informed care to those experiencing human trafficking.
Social Media
Create and plan social media (Facebook and Instagram) posts that accurately inform and educate the public on the issue of human trafficking.
Community Awareness Events
Planning, coordinating and promoting an awareness campaign and events for human trafficking awareness month and throughout the year.
Conference Planning
Plan and implement the annual Oklahoma United Conference and Human Trafficking workshop track at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Partners for Change Conference.
Membership Categories
Organizational Membership
The Organizational Membership level where member agencies agree to assign at least one representative from their agency to actively participate.
- Member agencies must have an organizational commitment to serve human trafficking victims and survivors within their agencies’ scope of practice. This does not mean that your agency must provide direct services to human trafficking victims or survivors.
- Direct service providers must be able to demonstrate that they are strength based, trauma informed, and victim centered.
Individual Membership
The Individual Membership level is for those who wish to join aside from an organization. This could include those with lived experience, interns, community members, etc.
Membership Levels
Based on your level of involvement, there are several membership levels that you may qualify for and include (highest level of involvement to lowest):
Platinum
Requirement(s)
- Serves in an OCAT leadership role. And/Or
- Has one employee that serves as an active member of OCAT’s Advisory Council. And/Or
- Has a human trafficking advocate that can join the on-call rotation. And/Or
- Provides agency resources/program funds to those who have experienced human trafficking.
- Completed OCAT orientation.
- Sign membership agreement and comprehensive standards for service.
Level of Involvement
- Assists in planning OCAT Events.
- Actively attends Coalition meetings and has staff that attend “at least” three Project Groups and/or serves on at least one committee.
- Agrees to send details of victims utilizing OVC Victim Service funds to OCAT Coordinator for OVC quarterly reporting.
- Agrees to send details of victims served to OCAT Coordinator for OVC Quarterly reporting.
Benefits
- Receives newsletter and priority registration for Coalition events.
- Can be listed on the OCAT website (if desired), after a 6 month waiting period.
- Can apply for OCAT’s OVC Victim Service funds for HT clients.
- Has a vote at the Advisory Council.
- Receives 2 scholarships for annual OK United Conference.
- Is eligible to to be nominated for, or elected to, an OCAT Leadership position.
Gold
Requirement(s)
- Cares about the issue and supports the work that OCAT is doing.
- Completed OCAT orientation and signed membership agreement(s).
Level of Involvement
- Actively attends Coalition meetings and has staff that attend “at least” three Project Groups and/or serves on at least one committee.
- Agrees to send details of victims utilizing OVC Victim Service funds to OCAT Coordinator for OVC quarterly reporting.
- Agrees to send details of victims served to OCAT Coordinator for OVC Quarterly reporting.
Benefits
- Receives newsletter and is Invited to Coalition events.
- Can be listed on the OCAT website (if desired), after a 6 month waiting period.
- Can apply for OCAT’s OVC Victim Service funds for HT clients.
- Can apply for scholarships for annual OK United Conference
- Can vote on items requiring all Coalition votes.
- Is eligible to to be nominated for or elected to an OCAT Leadership position.
- Will be invited to participate in the OCAT strategic planning process.
Silver
Requirement(s)
- Cares about the issue and supports the work that OCAT is doing.
- Completed OCAT orientation and signed membership agreement(s).
Level of Involvement
- Actively attend Quarterly meetings and “at least” one Project Group.
- Agrees to send details of victims utilizing OVC Victim Service funds to OCAT Coordinator for OVC Quarterly reporting.
Benefits
- Receives newsletter and is Invited to Coalition events.
- Can be listed on the OCAT website (if desired), after a 6 month waiting period.
- Can apply for OCAT’s OVC Victim Service funds for HT clients.
- Can apply for scholarships for annual OK United Conference
- Can vote on items requiring all Coalition votes.
Bronze
Requirement(s)
- Cares about the issue and supports the work that OCAT is doing.
- Completed OCAT orientation and signed membership agreement(s)
Level of Involvement
- Commits to attend at least 2 meetings or events per year.
- Can participate in project groups.
Benefits
- Receives newsletter and is Invited to Coalition events.
- Can be listed on the OCAT website (if desired), after a 6 month waiting period.
Friends of OCAT
Requirement
- Cares about the issue and supports the work that OCAT is doing.
- Must have a signed confidentiality agreement on file to attend any group.
Level of Involvement
- No participation “Requirement.”
- Can participate in one project group with the approval of that group’s chair. If you want to join more than one project group, please complete the interest form to become a Bronze/Silver/Gold member.
- Can attend Coalition-wide meetings and volunteer at OCAT events (i.e. resource fairs, registration tables, etc.)
Benefits
- Receives newsletter and is Invited to Coalition events.
Steps to Join
Step 1 – Click the Become a Member Sign Up link below and fill out the form.
Become a Member Sign Up
Step 2 – Watch for an email inviting you to attend orientation. You should receive an email within two weeks of completing the form from ocatoklahoma@gmail.org. If you do not receive an email within two weeks, check your junk folder. If it is not in your junk folder, email Karen Smith directly at ksmith@fsctulsa.org. An in-person or virtual orientation will be scheduled. An orientation packet will be included in this email.
Step 3 – Attend orientation. You will have an opportunity to discuss Guiding Principles, Community Agreements, Membership requirements, expectations, and benefits while also getting answers to your questions.
Step 4- Determine which Membership level you wish to qualify for.
- Silver/ Gold/Platinum organizations need to submit a statement or policy showing how your agency plans to assist those experiencing HT “within your agency’s scope of practice” (i.e. educating staff or community on HT, direct services, outreach, etc.)
- Silver/Gold/Platinum individuals need to submit a letter of reference by an OCAT Advisory Member or another professional in the field, or by submitting your resume showing HT experience.
Step 5—All individuals wishing to participate in any workgroups, please complete one of the following on-line trainings and submit documentation.
OVC TTAC VAT Online – Crimes Human Trafficking (45 minute training)
OVC TTAC – Home Page
Or
Polaris’s Human Trafficking 101 Training (45 minute training)
Human Trafficking Training – Polaris
Or
Attend and OCAT Sponsored Human Trafficking Workshop.
Step 6 – Submit documents to ocatoklahoma@gmail.com
- Letter of reference or resume (for Gold/Platinum Membership)
- Training certificate(s)
- Signed membership agreement
Step 7—Sign up for workgroups Workgroup Choices – Google Forms
Step 8– Watch for an email from the Chair of the selected workgroup. You will be added to any applicable distribution lists and project groups that you signed up and qualify to be a part.
We hope that you will join OCAT and look forward to getting to know you.
Feel free to share the interest form link and/or information about OCAT with others that you know who would be a good fit.
