The institute for family health, one of the largest federally qualified health center (fqhc) networks in new york state (NYS), will sustain the trauma-informed linkage to care (TLC) clinics…

The Institute for Family Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center network in New York, received a $942,079 Project Grant award from the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime under the Services for Trafficking Victims program (CFDA 16.320). The grant will sustain and expand the Trauma-Informed Linkage to Care (TLC) Clinics, which provide specialized medical, mental health, and related services for trafficking survivors/victims in New York City. Key objectives are to increase the quality and quantity of trauma-informed health and client coordination services, collaborate with local partners on training and referrals, and conduct ongoing quality improvement and evaluation. Expected outcomes include a 10-30% increase in services delivered, 12-15 trainings for staff and community partners, and enhanced coordination with at least 24 existing and 5 new referral partners. The TLC Clinics serve a diverse population of trafficking survivors, including women, young adults, individuals from high-poverty areas, racial/ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The institute for family health, one of the largest federally qualified health center (fqhc) networks in new york state (NYS), will sustain the trauma-informed linkage to care (TLC) clinics specialized medical, mental health and related services for trafficking survivors/victims in new york city, and will expand services to an additional health center location: at the institutes cadman family health center. The TLC clinics goal is to expand and strengthen the trauma-informed services for survivors of human trafficking in new york city, including information and referral; personal advocacy/accompaniment; and emotional support, safety, and health services. The objectives and activities are to increase the quality and quantity of trauma-informed health and client coordination services to meet the individualized needs of victims of human trafficking; collaborate with and train local health professionals, community-based organizations and other partners to ensure trafficking victims are properly identified and referred; assure comprehensive services for survivors by providing referrals for services not offered by the TLC clinic; and conduct ongoing quality improvement, data collection and evaluation activities to assure high-quality services and training. The expected outcomes/deliverables are to increase the volume of services delivered (i.e., number of patients and number of services) by 10-30% over the three-year grant period; conduct 12-15 trainings (4-5 annually) around trafficking awareness, trauma-informed care, overdose prevention, as well as other to-be-identified trainings as needed, to TLC clinic staff, other institute staff, and community partners; collaborate with 24 existing and at least five new referral partners (including those who offer legal and criminal/civil justice system assistance, focus on serving immigrants and/or focus on serving survivors of labor trafficking) to provide referrals; and collated program data, discussion of data findings, identified areas for program improvement, and corrective action plans, as well as annual results of patient feedback surveys. The TLC clinic serves NYC-area trafficking survivors including women; young adults and individuals from high-poverty areas; blacks; hispanics and latinos; those who speak a primary language other than english; and those who are lgbtq+.