The University of Maryland/SAFE Center, with significant help from the School of Social Work, received a significant three-year grant of $750,000 from the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime under the Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking Program. They teamed (and applied for the grant) with the Prince George’s County Police Department, which was awarded a grant of $562,500. Prince George’s State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks was an important advocate for pursuing this grant. This joint grant was awarded to only two counties in the country. It is designed to foster collaboration and coordinated approaches to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking of all ages and sexes; address the individualized needs of victims through quality services; and investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, and federal levels.
This is an important grant that will more deeply embed the University of Maryland/SAFE Center in the community, foster best practices, and enable them to better serve thir mission of fighting human trafficking and providing comprehensive victim services.