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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, June 2, 2005
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Campaign to Aid Victims of Human Trafficking Wins Award
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has been honored with a SABRE Award for its campaign to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking.
The campaign, titled “Look Beneath the Surface: Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking,” addresses the challenges of identifying victims of human trafficking across America and restoring victims to safety.
“The Administration for Children and Families is honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Wade F. Horn, HHS assistant secretary for children and families. “Since this project began, millions of Americans have been made aware of human trafficking and hundreds of victims have been identified and made eligible for benefits and services they need to restore their lives.”
The SABRE Award is given by The Holmes Group -- publisher of The Holmes Report, a leading public relations newsletter -- in recognition of superior achievement in public relations efforts that demonstrate excellence in innovation, integrity and effectiveness. SABRE Awards, now in their fifth year, are given to both government agency and corporate professionals, in the U.S. and overseas, for programs that provide breakthrough solutions, advance the practice of public relations, adhere to the highest ethical standards and deliver measurable bottom-line results.
So far, the campaign to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking has generated approximately 78 million media impressions. Nearly 500 community-based organizations have signed up to participate in the campaign. As of April 30, the campaign’s hotline received 2,150 calls and resulted in more than 100 tips being referred to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. In the year the campaign has been active, twice as many victims have been identified versus the preceding year and overall nearly 750 victims have been certified to receive benefits and services.
The campaign began in April 2004, under a contract for ACF with Ketchum, Inc.
Its informational and referral hotline is 1-888-3737-888.
For more information about the campaign to rescue and restore victims of human trafficking, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/index.html.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news