The Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative (PARI) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work was awarded the competitive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Innovation Challenge to Prevent Human Trafficking Among Women and Girls prize. PARI was one of only 18 programs selected from a nationwide pool to receive this Phase 1 funding, which recognizes promising practices in the prevention and early intervention of trafficking among women and girls.
The award will support the Regional Navigator Network project, a unique partnership between PARI and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to establish specialized Human Trafficking Regional Navigators in each jurisdiction and ensure comprehensive, trauma-informed services are immediately available to Maryland victims of sex and labor trafficking up to age 24.
Learn more about the HHS Innovation Challenge and winning projects here.