Prevention and Early Intervention to Reduce Sex and Labor Trafficking of Girls in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Maryland

The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom,
and Empowerment Center for Human Trafficking Survivors
(SAFE Center) provides legal, case management, economic
empowerment, and mental health services to survivors of sex
and labor trafficking of all ages, nationalities, and gender
identities. Through this project, the SAFE Center will expand
its successful human trafficking prevention programming to at
least 10 more high schools and middle schools in Prince
George’s and Montgomery counties, and to foster group
homes. The SAFE Center anticipates serving at least 100
female identifying students per county, each year of the
grant’s duration, for a total of 600 girls and young women up
to the age of 25. The SAFE Center will also expand its peer
mentorship model to additional schools to help build girls’
self-confidence, leadership skills, and prevention knowledge.
Each year during the duration of this grant, the SAFE Center
will offer a youth summit where girls and young women from
Prince George’s and Montgomery counties who are involved
in prevention programs will come together to enhance their
leadership skills, explore career opportunities, and connect
with peers and mentors. The SAFE Center plans to have
community and local colleges, employers, and vocational
training programs table and offer resources at the youth
summit. The SAFE Center anticipates engaging 100 young
women each summer in the youth summits.