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For Immediate Release
International Institute Awarded Grant to Combat Human Trafficking
ST. LOUIS (Oct. 8, 2018) - The International Institute of St. Louis, the St. Louis region's Welcoming Center for New Americans, has been awarded refunding to continue its anti-human trafficking program for an additional cycle. This grant -- $250,000 per year for three years -- is awarded by the U.S. Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime.
 
The International Institute is a member of the Human Trafficking Task Force of Eastern Missouri along with the St. Louis County Police Department, as well as the Federal Court of the Eastern District of Missouri.

The Office for Victims of Crime noted that the purpose of this award is to assist communities in developing effective and sustainable multidisciplinary task forces that will implement a victim-centered and coordinated approach to identifying victims of sex and labor trafficking, address the individualized needs of victims through services, and investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.

"The Human Trafficking Task Force of Eastern Missouri plays a critical role in combating both labor and sex trafficking not just in the St. Louis area, but the entire eastern district of Missouri. We are very happy to be able to continue this work," said International Institute of St. Louis Vice President of Programs, Blake Hamilton.
 
Since 2016, the Human Trafficking Task Force of Eastern Missouri has served more than 250 victims of trafficking.

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About International Institute of St. Louis
The International Institute is the St. Louis Region's Welcoming Center for New Americans. For nearly 100 years, the International Institute has provided essential community integration services to each new wave of immigrants to St. Louis. Annually, more than 7,000 immigrants and refugees learn English, find jobs, become resettled and start businesses with our help. We build a strong, more global St. Louis by promoting the value of immigrants and multicultural inclusion. Our annual Festival of Nations attracts more than 100,000 visitors. Learn more about us at  www.iistl.org.
 International Institute of St. Louis | (314) 773-9090 | info@iistl.org |   www.iistl.org
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