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Survivors of Trafficking Empowerment Program (STEP) Rio Grande Valley & Houston

Award Information

Award #
15POVC-22-GG-03748-HT
Funding Category
Competitive Discretionary
Areas Served
Geographical Areas Served
  • Cameron County
  • Hidalgo County
  • Starr County
  • Willacy County
  • Fort Bend County
  • Galveston County
  • Harris County
  • Montgomery County
Indicates all geographic areas to which services are provided, excluding states. See States Served.
States Served
TX
Indicates all applicable states in which services are provided.
Location
Congressional District
Status
Open
Funding First Awarded
2022
Total funding (to date)
$950,000

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2022, $950,000)

Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. (RST) will implement a collaborative and comprehensive service model to enhance the quality and quantity of services available to assist victims of human trafficking. The proposed initiative, Survivors of Trafficking Empowerment Program (STEP), will serve all human trafficking victims in Texas’ RGV region of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties and in the greater Houston area of Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery Counties. STEP will build upon RST and partners’ previous efforts to serve human trafficking victims. To accomplish program goals, RST will implement services aligned with the following objectives: 1) provide high quality case management services and referrals to essential services that address the individualized needs of victims of all forms of human trafficking in the proposed regions; 2) enhance interagency collaboration and response coordination across the proposed regions through improved community partnerships and provision of training and outreach activities; and 3) conduct data collection and evaluation activities to determine if the program is meeting stated goals and objectives. Key deliverables will include: an on-call response for the National Trafficking Hotline, local law enforcement and social service agencies in the proposed regions; case management and counseling services for victims; and enhanced training for local communities and law enforcement on the identification and reporting of human trafficking in the service areas. Desired outcomes include increased economic self-sufficiency for victims; increased identification of victims; and enhanced data collection.

Date Created: September 27, 2022