HOTBHN Wins Award To Help Youth Trafficking Victims
WACO, TX – ln line with its vision to invest in innovative projects that support survivors of sex trafficking, the Office of the Governor awarded the Heart of Texas Behavioral Network’s Klaras Center for Families (KCF) close to $100,000 to continue operations of its Hope Shelter Program.
The Hope Shelter Program provides emergency shelter services for youth victims of sex trafficking. It is designed to offer 24/7 emergency shelter services to trafficked youth between the ages of 13 to 17 — in the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network’s six county region which includes Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties. Hope Shelter services are specifically geared to provide trauma-informed support to trafficked youth leading to their healing and recovery from the trauma of sex trafficking. Services also include:
- Access to basic needs
- Intensive case management
- Mental health counseling
- Medical screening
- Skills training
- Access to employment support
- Education support
- Aftercare services
Tom Christian, Grants and Special Projects Director for KCF, stresses the award bolsters the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network’s commitment to child and adolescent behavioral health in the region.
“Taken together, all of these strategies are in the broad service of providing immediate healing and recovery from sex trafficking in the Heart of Texas Region, to include Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties,” Christian said.
KCF provides services for the Heart of Texas Behavioral Network’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health programs.
CONTACT:
Vince Erickson,
Division Director, Community & Governmental Relations
Cell: (254) 265-2030
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