EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 MEXICO 000722 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO BARBARA FLECK G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KWMN MX PHUM PREF SMIG SUBJECT: EIGHTH ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT - MEXICO (PART 2 OF 2) REF: A. 2006 STATE 202745 ¶B. (B) 2007 STATE 150188 ¶C. (C) 2008 STATE 02731 ¶27. (SBU) QUESTION E: For countries with legalized prostitution: does the government have a mechanism for screening for trafficking victims among persons involved in the legal/regulated commercial sex trade? POST RESPONSE: ONE of the biggest challenges for the GOM is to have authorities who are able to identify victims of trafficking. Coordination continues with USG agencies in training government officials, police and migration officials on victim identification. USAID will start a program sometime this year to train officials from the National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) on victim identification. To date, the GOM has not established a concrete screening method to identify trafficking victims among prostitutes. ¶28. (SBU) QUESTION F: Are the rights of victims respected? Are trafficking victims detained or jailed? If detained or jailed, for how long? Are victims fined? Are victims prosecuted for violations of other laws, such as those governing immigration or prostitution? POST RESPONSE: Migrants from Central American and other countries who travel to Mexico illegally and violate Mexican immigration laws are usually deported within 90 days. Once migration officials identify an illegal migrant, INM takes them to their detention center where they conduct interviews to see if any crime has been committed during their travel to/through Mexico. If the migrant is identified as a victim of trafficking, INM officials say they then turn them over to DIF, if they are under the age of 12 or to the appropriate Embassy or Consulate or to shelters that can support victims of trafficking (i.e. Casa del Migrante or IOM). Grupos Beta, a unit of INM that operates on the northern and southern borders, is mandated to deliver aid and protection to migrants or nationals of Mexico. In 2007, Grupos Beta reportedly rescued 5,700 people last year along the U.S.-Mexican border alone. ¶29. (SBU) QUESTION G: Does the government encourage victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking? How many victims assisted in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers during the reporting period? May victims file civil suits or seek legal action against traffickers? Does anyone impede victim access to such legal redress? If a victim is a material witness in a court case against a former employer, is the victim permitted to obtain other employment or to leave the country pending trial proceedings? Are there means by which a victim may obtain restitution? POST RESPONSE: Law enforcement and migration officials encourage victims to cooperate with investigations; however, victims rarely identify themselves as victims of trafficking and often times migrants who are exploited through their employers are afraid to tell authorities for fear deportation. Before the passage of the new federal law, trafficking in persons was not considered a crime, however, many people were charged with other crimes other than trafficking but there are investigations pending under the new law but to date, no prosecutions have been made under the new law. Since 2005, the INM has identified 22 victims of trafficking from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Argentina, Slovakia and Ecuador. Of the 22, (81%) of the 22 were victims of sexual exploitation and (19%) victims of labor exploitation. Five of these were foreigners and were authorized humanitarian visas in order for them to provide information to prosecute traffickers and regularize their status within Mexico. The remaining voluntarily returned to their countries with the support from various consulates and international organizations. Since the beginning of 2008, INM has identified ONE trafficking victim from Ecuador. ¶30. (SBU) QUESTION H: What kind of protection is the government able to provide for victims and witnesses? Does it provide these protections in practice? What type of shelter or services does the government provide? Are these services provided directly by the government or are they provided by NGOs or IOs funded by host government grants? Does the government provide shelter or housing benefits to victims or other resources to aid the victims in rebuilding their lives? Where are child victims placed (e.g., in MEXICO 00000722 002 OF 008 shelters, foster care, or juvenile justice detention centers)? What is the number of victims assisted by government-funded assistance programs during the reporting period? What is the number of victims assisted by government-funded assistance programs during the reporting period? What is the number of victims assisted by non government-funded assistance programs? What is the number of victims that received shelter services during the reporting period? POST RESPONSE: Through the DIF, the government administers assistance programs and shelters in Sonora, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua and Baja California for children repatriated to Mexico from the United States. The GOM works closely with UNICEF (which is reportedly in the process of compiling information on the number of children who enter Mexico's southern border alone and also those who travel throughout Mexico alone on their way to the U.S. The GOM is currently working with IOM to build a shelter on the southern border for migrants. Although IOM's shelter reportedly provides assistance to victims of trafficking, some say the shelter is not equipped for victims of trafficking and is more equipped for migrants. The GOM has often referred victims to NGOS. In January 2008, Congress approved a 7 million USD budget to construct trafficking shelters. SRE says that they expect to use the funds to build two shelters. ¶31. (SBU) QUESTION I: Does the government provide any specialized training for government officials in identifying trafficking victims and in the provision of assistance to trafficked victims, including the special needs of trafficked children? Does the government provide training on protections and assistance to its embassies and consulates in foreign countries that are destination or transit countries? Does it urge those embassies and consulates to develop ongoing relationships with NGOs and IOs that serve trafficked victims? What is the number of trafficking victims assisted by the host government's embassies or consulates abroad during the reporting period? Please explain the level of assistance. For example, did the host government provide travel documents for the victim to repatriate, did the host government contact NGOs in either the source or destination countries to ensure the victim received adequate assistance, did the host government pay for the transportation home for a victim's repatriation, etc . POST RESPONSE: The GOM continues to work with USAID and ICE on training government officials in identifying trafficking victims. CNDH expects to receive training from USG in identifying trafficking victims with the intent to assist in training government officials on identifying victims and potential victims. SRE official say that they are implementing programs to assist Mexican trafficking victims in the U.S. and that ONE of their consulates in California has established the resources to assist a TIP victim. GOM has plans to work with their Embassies in Central America to develop programs to assist with prevention of trafficking in Central America. This program has not been established. ¶32. (SBU) QUESTION J: Does the government provide assistance, such as medical aid, shelter, or financial help, to its nationals who are repatriated as victims of trafficking? POST RESPONSE: Through the DIF, the government continues to administer assistance programs and provide shelters for migrants through DIF on the northern border. NGOs also continue to provide assistance to victims of trafficking and street children and migrants: Alternativas Pacificas, based in Monterrey continues to provide support for victims of trafficking. Alternativas Pacificas is a holistic shelter model for domestic violence victims and created a national network of shelters. Within the past few years, the shelters have provided services to victims of trafficking. Casa Alianza Mexico runs a network of shelters dedicated to street children. Most of the children are victims of domestic violence as well as trafficking. Casa Alianza provides comprehensive service such as food, education, health care, religion, legal counseling, and psychological assistance. Casa Alianza works with DIF and also receives the cooperation of INM when assistance is needed to repatriate undocumented migrants. Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC) works on the US and Mexican sides of the border, with offices in San Diego MEXICO 00000722 003 OF 008 and Cancun. BSCC has launched awareness campaigns, developed a coalition of civil society organizations to combat trafficking, and trained Mexican law enforcement and other officials. BSCC works closely with state-level DIF offices, the State Commission for Human Rights and federal law enforcement. Casa de las Mercedes provides assistance and support to women of all ages who live on the streets and are victims of mistreatment, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation. The NGO runs a shelter in which these women and their children can live (as long as necessary) and receive medical and psychological attention, food, legal counseling and education. The Casa del Migrante runs shelters in Tapachula, Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana where they primarily attend to migrants but also encounter TIP victims. In its Tapachula shelter, the organization recently added a separate area dedicated for trafficking victims. Casa del Migrante has a good relationship with INM. Centro de Estudios e Investigacion en Desarollo y Asistencia Social (CEIDAS) is promoting awareness of trafficking through the media, academic conferences, studies and other outreach strategies. CEIDAS in partnership with the Embassy sponsored a trip for journalists and members of civil society to travel to Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles for a week to study prevention, protection and prosecutions of TIP in the U.S. in October 2007. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) actively works to raise awareness about TIP, such as on programs designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors, particularly by trying to lower the demand. CATW has trained law enforcement officials on trafficking. CATW reports having received funding from INMUJERES and Mexico City Government. Centro Integral de Atencion a la Mujer (CIAM),located in Cancun, provides short and long term services to women victims of domestic and sexual violence-including crisis prevention, legal assistance, medical and psychological and vocational counseling, and also protection. CIAM provides services to trafficking victims, conducts anti-TIP public awareness campaigns and works with the hotel industry and the local government in efforts to combat trafficking. Fundacion Infantia works with the tourism industry on prevention of child sexual exploitation. Fundacion Infantia works with the BSCC and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in providing training to government entities and schools and has worked with local DIF offices. International Organization for Migration works extensively with the GOM, mostly with the INM to provide training to immigration officials on both the northern and southern borders. The IOM works closely with Casa del Migrante in Tapachula, Chiapas, as well as Casa de las Mercedes in Mexico City, among many other NGOs and shelters. The INM regularly contacts the IOM for assistance with suspected trafficking victims. Note: The names of NGOs working with the INM with victim protection and assistance are not/not for public disclosure. INM reportedly assisted 38 victims of trafficking during the reporting period. End note. INMUJERES is also involved in anti-TIP efforts, mostly through funding programs and it its programs to counter violence against women and educate women on their rights. Sin Fronteras has a good working relationship with the GOM, particularly with the INM and the SRE's Secretariat for Global Affairs. Sin Fronteras provides legal and social services for migrants in Mexico, and it has been called upon to assist the INM with providing assistance to trafficking victims. NOTE: the names of NGOs working with the INM with victim protection and assistance are not/not for public disclosure. End note. ¶33. (SBU) QUESTION K: Which international organizations or NGOs, if any, work with trafficking victims? What type of services do they provide? What sort of cooperation do they receive from local authorities? How much funding (in U.S. Dollar Equivalent) did NGOs and international organizations receive from the host government for victim assistance during the reporting period? Please disaggregate funding for prevention and public awareness efforts from victim assistance funding. NOTE: If post reports that a government is incapable of providing direct assistance to TIP victims, MEXICO 00000722 004 OF 008 please assess whether the government ensures that TIP victims receive access to adequate care from other entities. Funding, personnel, and training constraints should be noted if applicable. Conversely, lack of political will in a situation where a country has adequate financial and other resources to address the problem should be noted as well. POST RESPONSE: Several NGOs and international organizations work with trafficking victims. (Please see answers for question 31) Alternativas Pacificas, based in Monterrey continues to provide support for victims of trafficking. Alternativas Pacificas is a holistic shelter model for domestic violence victims and created a national network of shelters. Within the past few years, the shelters have provided services to victims of trafficking. Casa Alianza Mexico runs a network of shelters dedicated to street children. Most of the children are victims of domestic violence as well as trafficking. Casa Alianza provides comprehensive service such as food, education, health care, religion, legal counseling, and psychological assistance. Casa Alianza works with DIF and also receives the cooperation of INM when assistance is needed to repatriate undocumented migrants. Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition (BSCC) works on the US and Mexican sides of the border, with offices in San Diego and Cancun. BSCC has launched awareness campaigns, developed a coalition of civil society organizations to combat trafficking, and trained Mexican law enforcement and other officials. BSCC works closely with state-level DIF offices, the State Commission for Human Rights and federal law enforcement. Casa de las Mercedes provides assistance and support to women of all ages who live on the streets and are victims of mistreatment, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation. The NGO runs a shelter in which these women and their children can live (as long as necessary) and receive medical and psychological attention, food, legal counseling and education. The Casa del Migrante runs shelters in Tapachula, Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana where they primarily attend to migrants but also encounter TIP victims. In its Tapachula shelter, the organization recently added a separate area dedicated for trafficking victims. Casa del Migrante has a good relationship with INM. Centro de Estudios e Investigacion en Desarollo y Asistencia Social (CEIDAS) is promoting awareness of trafficking through the media, academic conferences, studies and other outreach strategies. CEIDAS in partnership with the Embassy sponsored a trip for journalists and members of civil society to travel to Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles for a week to study prevention, protection and prosecutions of TIP in the U.S. in October 2007. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) actively works to raise awareness about TIP, such as on programs designed to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors, particularly by trying to lower the demand. CATW has trained law enforcement officials on trafficking. CATW reports having received funding from INMUJERES and Mexico City Government. Centro Integral de Atencion a la Mujer (CIAM),located in Cancun, provides short and long term services to women victims of domestic and sexual violence-including crisis prevention, legal assistance, medical and psychological and vocational counseling, and also protection. CIAM provides services to trafficking victims, conducts anti-TIP public awareness campaigns and works with the hotel industry and the local government in efforts to combat trafficking. Fundacion Infantia works with the tourism industry on prevention of child sexual exploitation. Fundacion Infantia works with the BSCC and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in providing training to government entities and schools and has worked with local DIF offices. International Organization for Migration works extensively with the GOM, mostly with the INM to provide training to immigration officials on both the northern and southern borders. The IOM works closely with Casa del Migrante in Tapachula, Chiapas, as well as Casa de las Mercedes in Mexico City, among many other NGOs and shelters. The INM regularly contacts the IOM for assistance with suspected trafficking MEXICO 00000722 005 OF 008 victims. Note: The names of NGOs working with the INM with victim protection and assistance are not/not for public disclosure. End note. INMUJERES is also involved in anti-TIP efforts, mostly through funding programs and it its programs to counter violence against women and educate women on their rights. Sin Fronteras has a good working relationship with the GOM, particularly with the INM and the SRE's Secretariat for Global Affairs. Sin Fronteras provides legal and social services for migrants in Mexico, and it has been called upon to assist the INM with providing assistance to trafficking victims. NOTE: the names of NGOs working with the INM with victim protection and assistance are not/not for public disclosure. End note. PREVENTION: -------------- ¶34. (SBU) QUESTION A: Does the government acknowledge that trafficking is a problem in the country? If not why not? POST RESPONSE: The GOM recognizes it has a sex, labor and organ trafficking problem, all of which are transnational and domestic problems. The issue of trafficking in persons continues to be a new issue for government officials, non-governmental organizations and Mexican citizens. GOM officials, National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and human rights groups continued to speak out against trafficking in persons throughout the year. Thorough knowledge of the issue remains unclear among Mexican citizens despite the GOM's increased awareness on the subject. There still needs to be a clear distinction between smuggling and trafficking in persons drawn on the state and local level. During the last year, the GOM/NGOS sponsored numerous seminars and conferences that included panels on trafficking: --March 2, 2007-Coordination meeting about Child Sexual Exploitation organized by ECPAT-International. --March-April 2007- INM organized a training seminar for attention to victims of Child Sexual Exploitation (a total of five sessions). --May 17, 2007- Sensitization workshop for screenwriters and producers of soap operas organized by "The Media Project." --May 24, 2007- two conferences organized by International Organization for Migration (IOM) on trafficking in persons to mark the meeting with the network of Attention to Women affected by the migratory phenomenon in Guadalajara. --June 2007- IOM provide training for civil society organizations in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Puebla (a total of 18 people). --June 2007, IOM participated in the International Seminar on Prevention and Sanction Trafficking in Persons organized by the Mexican Senate and CEIDAS in order to obtain support in approving a new federal law against trafficking. --August 2007- IOM provided two days of training to state government officials in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. --September 26-27, 2007- IOM co-organized an international seminar on "Trafficking of Women for Exploitation in Latin America which took place in Tlaxcala. --October 22-23, IOM and CNDH organized a seminar on Migration and Human Rights in Villahermosa, Tabasco for government officials and NGOs. --November 2007, IOM participated in a training workshop about trafficking in persons for officials of the state Family Dependency agencies (DIF). At the end of the workshop, DIF constructed a network of attention to children who are victims of trafficking. --February 2008- IOM participated in a meeting with the Mexico City government for the creation of a working group and coordination on trafficking in persons. --February 2008- IOM organized a sensitization workshop for municipal police in Tapachula. CNDH plans to address university, business and union sectors MEXICO 00000722 006 OF 008 on trafficking in persons -------------- -------------- -- For 2008 CNDH has five forum scheduled to address businesses, unions, religious and civil associations, and universities with the objective to diffuse and blend national legislation on trafficking in persons. The following five regional forums will be conducted on coordination with the Mexican Senate: --Tlaxcala- February 29, 2008 --Guadalajara, Jalisco March 28, 2008 --Zacatecas- April 25, 2008 --Culiacan-Sinaloa- May 30, 2008 --Merida, Yucatan- June 27, 2008 University forums -------------- --University Forum (UNAM),February 26, 2008 on trafficking in persons. --University Forum ITESM Monterrey, March 20, 2008. --University Forum Iberoamericana in Mexico City May 8, 2008. --University National Forum ITESM Monterrey, September 25, ¶2008. Business sector -------------- --Regional Business Forum in Toluca, state of Mexico- February 25, 2008. --Regional Business Forum in Guanajuato- May 12, 2008. --Regional Business Forum in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon- July 5, ¶2008. Union/Labor sector -------------- --Regional Forum with Unions in Merida, Yucatan-April 16, ¶2008. --Regional Forum with Unions in Cuernavaca, Morelos- July 31, ¶2008. --Regional forum with Unions in Veracruz- November 21, 2008. National Forum for Agriculture workers -------------- --National Forum for the Agricultural sector, Hermosillo, Sonora- August 22, 2008. Civil Society -------------- --Forum with Domestic workers organizations- April 24, 2008. --Forum with organizations for prostitutes- July 18, 2008. --Forum with taxi driver organizations- October 17, 2008. --Forum with organizations for house-maids- November 7, 2008. --Forum with Organizations for "Fathers of the Family"- December 11, 2008. Government -------------- --February 26, 2008, CNDH sponsored a program with Mexico Foreign Relation's Secretariat (SRE) to discuss the issue of trafficking in persons and the challenges in Mexico. In addition to the above committees, CNDH will create 10 regional committees around Mexico to address trafficking in persons in areas where trafficking activity is the highest. CNDH plans to establish at least ONE committee each month starting February 2008. The first committee was expected to start on February 15, 2008 in Chiapas. ¶35. (SBU) QUESTION B: Are there, or have there been, government-run anti-trafficking information or education MEXICO 00000722 007 OF 008 campaigns conducted during the reporting period? If so, briefly describe the campaigns(s),including their objectives and effectiveness. Please provide the number of people reached by such awareness efforts if available. Do these campaigns target potential trafficking victims and/or the demand for trafficking (e.g. "clients" of prostitutes or beneficiaries of forced labor)? POST RESPONSE: As documented in last year's TIP report, the GOM's anti-trafficking information and education campaigns have focused on a National Program to Eradicate the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors. The program is administered by the DIF and is supported by numerous executive and legislative branch entities (STPS and the PGR), as well as civil society groups. An NGO addressing prevention of trafficking in persons in Mexico say the states of Colima and Sinaloa has the best state level campaigns to combat trafficking in persons through DIF at the state level. ¶36. (SBU) QUESTION C: What is the relationship between government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society on the trafficking issue? POST RESPONSE: The relationship between government officials, NGOs, other relevant organizations and elements of civil society on the trafficking issue varies - generally depending on the particular government agency and whether the relationship is at the federal or state level. The relationship between the GOM and civil society in any context has traditionally been tense, but in the area of trafficking there has been significant but uneven cooperation in the last year. CNDH has received easy access to INM detention centers throughout the country. However, access varies among NGOS. For example, Sin Fronteras has no access to INM detention centers but Casa del Migrante has full access to the detention centers in Tapachula. The NGO Fundacion Infantia and the International Labor Organization (ILO) has worked with the Secretariat of Labor (STPS),PGR, DIF and INM on public awareness campaigns to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children, with particularly good cooperation with state level DIF offices. IOM, ILO, UNICEF, the Bilateral Security Corridor Coalition (BSCC),Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women and Children (CAT-W),and Fundacion Infantia have conducted training for federal and state governmental agencies to build capacity in victim services and to develop greater awareness of trafficking and the harms of sexual tourism. ¶37. (SBU) QUESTION D: Does the government monitor immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking? Do law enforcement agencies screen for potential trafficking victims along borders? POST RESPONSE: The GOM, Migration officials, Grupos Beta, PGR all recognize the large influx of trafficked person and other illegal migrants entering through the southern border with the intention of transiting Mexico en route to the U.S., but scare resources continue to prevent them from training personnel to effectively screen for potential trafficking victims. INM report that they deported approximately 50,000 aliens in 2007- the vast majority of whom were from Central America; almost all from Central America. Human rights organizations and International organizations say that there was an increase of children crossing the southern border alone often times falling prey to traffickers. In 2007, INM authorized the issuance of nine humanitarian visas, which are valid for ONE year, renewable, and granted to victims who agree to cooperate in the prosecution of case. In operations to secure its borders, INM nonetheless misses significant opportunities to identify victims. The lack of concrete training on victim identification and enough resources to screen Central Americans traveling through Mexico prevent official from accurately screening and interviewing individuals to see if they are victims of trafficking. INM has 46 detention centers throughout Mexico and CNDH reportedly has an office in each center. INM officials say that when they find migrants who are within Mexico illegally, they send them to the detention centers where they are asked several questions to determine if the person is a victim of trafficking. If not, INM contacts the appropriate Embassies and Consulates in order to provide services to the illegal MEXICO 00000722 008 OF 008 migrants. Within 90 days the migrants are usually deported back to their home countries. INM expects to develop identification cards to issue to Central Americans seeking work in Mexico. The identification card is expected to contain personal information on the individual, including information on the employer in order to track employers. This will also enable migration officials to conduct periodic checks on employers to ensure that they are abiding by proper labor standards. One of the biggest problems in Mexico according to NGOs is the lack of documentation and statistics on migrants and the lack of strategies to detect victims capable of being victims of trafficking. There was a document published called "Labor Diversification of Guatemalan Workers in Chiapas" this document does not provide evidence on specific cases in Chiapas but tries to approach the migration issue on the border region. This study was written in 2005 and published in 2007. ¶38. (SBU) QUESTION E: Is there a mechanism for coordination and communication between various agencies, internal, international, and multilateral on trafficking-related matters, such as a multi-agency working group or a task force? Does the government have a trafficking in persons working group or single point of contact? Does the government have a public corruption task force? POST RESPONSE: Under the new federal law an interagency commission was created to address trafficking in persons. This interagency group consists of all government agencies, three civil society organizations and three academic experts. The Interagency commission was established under the new law in which President Calderon will appoint an official to chair the commission. To date, President Calderon has not appointed a chair of the commission. This commission will be the formal mechanism to coordinate and communicate between various agencies. Background: In January 2005, the Trafficking in Persons Interagency Sub-Working Group was formalized in Mexico. The members are: SEGOB,-CISEN, SSP-PFP, STPS, SS, SEDESOL, SECTUR, PGR, INM, INMUJERES, and SNDIF. Since 2005, SRE has coordinated the efforts of the Sub-working group and ONE of its main goals has been to push for the passage of federal legislation on trafficking in persons. There is no single point of contact. The lead organization has not been named. ¶39. (SBU) QUESTION F: Does the government have a national plan of action to address trafficking in persons? If so, which agencies were involved in developing it? Were NGOs consulted in the process? What steps has the government taken to disseminate the action plan? POST RESPONSE: The GOM does not have a national plan of action to address trafficking in persons. Under the new law, the GOM is required to create a National Plan of action. Article 12 of the new federal law states: "The Inter-Agency Commission shall develop the National Program to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons." Section 2 states: "Establish prevention, protection and care campaigns for trafficking in persons based on the principle of safeguarding human dignity and human rights with special attention to children, adolescents and women." ¶40. (SBU) QUESTION G: For all posts: As part of a new criteria added to the TVPA's minimum standards by the 2005 TVPRA, what measures has the government taken during the reporting period to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts? POST RESPONSE: See question 34 and 35. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / GARZA