San Francisco-based Dignity Health received $1.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice to aid human trafficking victims and examine its existing initiatives, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Here are four things to know:
1. The Justice Department announced the pair of grants Nov. 29, according to the report. The funds will allow Dignity Health to create training programs to teach providers how to provide trauma-informed care for human trafficking survivors.
2. The grants will also help the health system evaluate and grow its "safe haven" model, which integrates physical and mental healthcare services into long-term support for survivors, to three care sites.
"Most healthcare systems promote a patient-centered approach, but I think what's lacking is concrete education on trauma," Holly Gibbs, a sex trafficking survivor and director of Dignity Health's human trafficking response program, told the publication. "If you're educated on trauma … you're better able to understand your patient's wishes, and respect your patient."
3. The program has helped Dignity Health identify at least 31 patients who exhibited high or moderate indicators of sexual or labor trafficking victimization during fiscal year 2016, according to the report.
4. All three clinic sites will be staffed by medical residents.
To access the full report, click here.