Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Western New York Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) was in Buffalo on Thursday to announce $525,550 in federal funding for the Buffalo Rising Against Violence at ECMC (BRAVE) Trauma Recovery Center.
This funding dedicated to BRAVE will expand comprehensive services and accessibility to support the needs of human trafficking survivors, and also increase community capacity to screen, identify, and appropriately refer survivors for services.
"Human trafficking survivors are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is our duty to support them on their road to recovery. And so today, I'm proud to stand with these difference makers to provide $525,000 in federal funding for BRAVE, for the work that they do each and every day to expand the services they're doing, to include support for survivors of human trafficking, including counseling, crisis intervention, legal support and assistance with job training, locating housing, transportation to-and-from medical appointments, and so much more," said Rep. Kennedy during Thursday's announcement.
"I like to say we're not a religious organization, but these people do God's work. They are treating people and taking care of people in their most vulnerable states, whether it'd be sex trafficking or other trauma that individuals face, and they are changing people's lives, one person at a time," added ECMC President and CEO, Thomas Quatroche Jr., PhD. "There's just no greater work that can be done in our community than what these individuals here are doing. So I thank them for their dedication to our community."
This grant will support the increase of community collaboration and capacity regarding identification, services, and referral pathways for trafficking survivors, with data-driven decisions guiding outreach, training, and collaboration activities.
This funding was made possible through the Office for Victims of Crimes, within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Launched in 2020, BRAVE is Western New York’s only hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP). Through BRAVE, ECMC focuses on the structural causes of violence and provides survivors the tools and connections to make lifestyle changes that prevent re-victimization or further perpetration of violence.
BRAVE workers connect patients and families to culturally sensitive, comprehensive, and multifaceted interventions at ECMC and in the community.
"BRAVE Trauma Recovery Center recognizes that human trafficking can happen in any industry, and includes both labor and sex trafficking. The crime impacts people of all ages, genders and abilities, regardless of their nationality or the neighborhood they live in," said Ahlea Howard, BRAVE's program coordinator for all anti-trafficking efforts. "Trafficking is a violation of an individual's basic rights, and might not reflect the stereotypes we see in the media. As such, BRAVE TRC is committed to working with hospital and community partners, including the Western District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force to identify survivors of labor and sex trafficking, provide these direct services, and increase community capacity to address human trafficking across Western New York.
"With the awards of these federal grant funds, BRAVE TRC will have dedicated people power to expand that internal capacity to provide these critical anti-trafficking services in our community."