BUFFALO, N.Y. — Congressman Tim Kennedy announced on Thursday, Buffalo Rising Against Violence at ECMC, also known as BRAVE, will receive $525,000 in federal funding.
The additional resource will allow the program to expand services for survivors of human trafficking.
Services offered will include counseling, crisis intervention, legal support, and locating housing and transportation for appointments.
The funding will also increase the community capacity to screen, identify and appropriately refer survivors to services that are trauma informed.
"This program has just grown exponentially, ECMC President and CEO Dr. Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. said. "We are very blessed to have great leadership... and the reason it's grown exponentially is because there's a need... but fortunately, we have these wonderful individuals to care for our community."
The BRAVE program is the region’s only hospital-based violence intervention program and provides a full range of services for program participants. Some services include crisis support, mental health counseling, trauma support groups, intensive case management, and more.
BRAVE also empathizes their focus on all forms of trafficking, including sex and labor trafficking with a special focus on vulnerable population including foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, male survivors, and individuals with limited English proficiencies.
"With the awards of this federal funds, BRAVE TRC will have dedicated people power to expand that internal capacity to provide these critical anti trafficking services in our community," Ahlea Howard, LMSW, Project Manager, BRAVE Trauma Recovery Center said.
For information on BRAVE can be found on the ECMC website here.
