By Alexander Tuerk 

A center for survivors of sex and labor trafficking will join the school of public health (SPH) this month, bolstering the center’s mission with the university’s research capabilities.

The Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment, or SAFE, Center announced the move on March 12. According to their website, the SAFE Center provides “survivor-centered and trauma-informed services” for survivors of trafficking, as well as research and political advocacy.

“The change was decided by the Provost and was a strategic decision based on the fact that human trafficking is a public health issue,” Kelly Blake, Assistant Dean of Communications for SPH, said in an email. “We have significant research expertise that will support their mission and help with efforts to prevent trafficking.”

The SAFE Center is part of the “MPowering the State” initiative between the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the University of Maryland, College Park. Blake said that the SAFE Center will remain at its off-campus location, but the center’s administration, finances and research efforts now fall under the purview of the SPH.

Susan Esserman, founder and director of the SAFE Center, said she sees the move as mutually beneficial.

“The school’s emphasis on prevention, health and wellness, and quality of life closely aligns with our mission of helping human trafficking survivors overcome the trauma of their trafficking and rebuild their lives,” Esserman said in a press release.

The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a class, CCJS325, on human trafficking. Abby Guise, a sophomore public health science major, is taking the class this semester with lecturer Christine White, and said that she was shocked at how pervasive the issue is.

“It’s happening in College Park, in our home towns, in our states, at local businesses,” Guise said.

The Interstate 95 corridor from New York to Washington is used heavily by human traffickers, according to the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force. Maryland is defined as a “pass-through” state given its central location in this corridor and the many international airports in the area, such as Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International.

In her class, Guise said the students learn about the signs of human trafficking and who is most at risk of being targeted.

“I know what to look out for, and to look out for my friends too so they’re never in this situation,” Guise said. The SAFE Center lists signs of trafficking on their website as a resource for victims and those who suspect someone of being a victim.

Guise also said her coursework has led her to learn more about human trafficking advocacy work, but added that she hadn’t heard of any advocacy groups or clubs on campus.

Blake said SPH plans on engaging students in the work of the SAFE Center, but did not have specifics regarding any programs.