The survivor engagement program at the University of Maryland SAFE Center provides survivors of human trafficking with meaningful opportunities to connect and grow. Developed in response to client feedback, the program offers group discussions, team-building exercises, and wellness workshops that help participants build stronger interpersonal relationships, enhance communication skills, and prioritize their health. “Our goal […]
The University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors and Steptoe LLP praised Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the county’s Task Force on Human Trafficking, and the County Council for passing groundbreaking legislation aimed at combating sex and labor trafficking in the county through procurement law. The legislation, passed unanimously on July 2, 2024, makes Prince George’s […]
In August 2024, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Representatives Glenn Ivey (D-MD), David Valadao (R-CA), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL) introduced The Continued Presence Improvement Act to strengthen protections for human trafficking survivors in the U.S. This bill aims to reduce survivors’ vulnerability to further exploitation and to […]
For the second consecutive year, the SAFE Center has been selected by the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation (AHLA) as a national grant recipient to expand its program in partnership with Marriott International to train human trafficking survivors nationwide for careers in the hospitality industry. In 2018, Marriott International and the Global Fund to […]
The retreat, held at the University of Maryland, College Park, was an exceptional opportunity for girls to hear from experienced leaders about developmental skills that will be extremely useful as they navigate their teenage years into adulthood. The aim of the retreat was to empower girls and help them develop their confidence, provide mentorship and […]
Housing is the greatest unmet need of the sex and labor trafficking survivors that the SAFE Center serves. Most of our clients are unstably housed, including almost 100% of our crisis intervention clients who may have recently exited their trafficker’s physical control. Recognizing these challenges, the SAFE Center convened a survivor-led panel to discuss obstacles to obtain and maintain safe and […]
he SAFE Center’s Founder and CEO, Susan Esserman, is featured in articles highlighting a recent human trafficking case in Maryland. Esserman discusses how transportation hubs can facilitate human trafficking. She highlighted that the SAFE Center, which primarily serves Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, has assisted more than 400 sex and labor trafficking survivors and their […]
Our Human Trafficking Awareness Month event, First Step into Employment: Empowering Human Trafficking Survivors through Economic Opportunities, highlighted the vital role of private sector partnerships in providing viable career paths for human trafficking survivors and showcased successful models that not only offer employment opportunities but also enhance the well-being of those seeking to reclaim their […]
Allison Norris, Esq., Legal Immigration Services Director at the SAFE Center, was invited by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to speak at their Children’s Services Convening last month. USCCB Children’s Services, through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), provides services to children who come to the United States alone including shelter, foster care, […]
Source: AHLA Foundation| July 19, 2023 WASHINGTON (July 19, 2023) – The AHLA Foundation announced $500,000 in inaugural No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) Survivor Fund grants to four community-based organizations that serve human trafficking survivors. The 2023 NRFT Survivor Fund grant recipients will provide and promote resources to build survivors’ stability and self-sufficiency – from childcare and […]
