The Institute’s PurpLE Clinic Receives $600,000 in Funding to Expand Access to Primary Health Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking in NYC
New York, NY (October 5, 2017) – The Institute for Family Health was awarded $200,000 per year for three years by the federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The funding will expand the work of the Institute’s PurpLE (Purpose: Listen and Engage) Clinic, New York City’s first community health center-based clinic targeted to the needs of survivors of human trafficking and individuals impacted by other forms of trauma, including rape and domestic violence. Founded in July 2015, the PurpLE Clinic provides confidential, trauma-informed care to this high-need population.
Led by Dr. Anita Ravi, MD, MPH, MSHP, an emerging leader in the field of health and trafficking, the PurpLE Clinic offers a wide range of services, including care for acute and chronic illnesses, comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care, and preventive screening and services, all tailored to the individual’s needs and circumstances. With OVC funding, the Institute will increase the number of people served by PurpLE and establish a mini-fellowship to train additional primary care providers to offer sensitive medical care tailored to the needs of trafficking survivors.
“This grant is essential in the PurpLE Clinic’s efforts to address the health needs of people who experience trafficking,” said Dr. Ravi. “I look forward to serving our patients through expanded medical services and through ongoing multidisciplinary collaborations with our community partners.”
The funding comes from the OVC’s Specialized Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program, which was created to fill significant gaps in services to assist all victims of severe forms of trafficking.
Neil Calman, MD, president and CEO of the Institute for Family Health, said, “The Institute is committed to providing compassionate care to all people in our communities, especially those who are most vulnerable. We are proud to be able to offer this specialized care to survivors of trafficking.”
