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** For immediate release ** July 16, 2020 St. Paul, Minnesota SERVICES EXPAND FOR YOUTH AT RISK FOR SEX TRAFFICKING 180 DEGREES NAMED REGIONAL NAVIGATOR FOR MINNESOTA'S EAST METRO REGION The Minnesota Department of Health has awarded 180 Degrees over $450,000 in grant funding to expand services around the state to prevent sex trafficking of minors. 180 Degrees operates Brittany’s Place in St. Paul, the state’s largest shelter and program for girls under 18 who are victims of sex trafficking, along with youth shelters in Chanhassen, Rochester, and St. Cloud. New intervention and prevention services will be offered at each facility, broadening the network of support for youth who are at risk for sexual exploitation. “Minnesota Department of Health recognizes the need to connect with more youth at risk for sexual exploitation,” said Caroline Palmer, Safe Harbor Director for the Minnesota Department of Health. “We are working with organizations across the state, like 180 Degrees in the East Metro, to identify more at risk youth and connect them with appropriate services.” The grant names 180 Degrees the Safe Harbor Regional Navigator for the Twin Cities’ East Metro region. Serving as the regional expert and service hub, the Safe Harbor Regional Navigator coordinates training and strengthens service networks across Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, and Washington counties. Programs goals are to educate communities about sex trafficking, quickly connect youth with services, and strengthen the continuum of care in the region. Effective immediately Mary McRoy, 180 Degrees Senior Program Manager for Brittany’s Place, will step up to lead the Safe Harbor Regional Navigator effort on behalf of 180 Degrees. “We are fortunate to have Mary leading this effort,” said 180 Degrees’ CEO Dan Pfarr. “Mary is an effective relationship-builder and leader. Managing Brittany’s Place for the past several years, she has extensive experience working directly with youth who are victims of sex trafficking. She’s eager to share her knowledge with others in the community.” said Pfarr. A search is underway for a new Program Manager at Brittany’s Place to replace McRoy. Minnesota Department of Health funding will also expand services to prevent sex trafficking of minors. 180 Degrees will launch outreach to at-risk youth in the Twin Cities East Metro and Southwest Metro suburbs, and in St. Cloud, and Rochester, and also assess youth in its shelters for risk for sexual exploitation. “Youth in our shelters are among the highest risk group for sexual exploitation,” said Dan Pfarr, CEO at 180 Degrees. “Now we will have the resources to assess the risk level youth in our programs. Along with more street and community outreach, these services help us prevent further or future victimization”. Founded in 1971, 180 Degrees is a multi-cultural social service agency providing emergency shelter and housing for homeless youth, victims of sex trafficking, and men exiting prison. Programs include Clifton Place, a residential and supportive housing program for men exiting prison, Brittany’s Place, Minnesota’s largest shelter and program for girls under 18 who are victims of sex trafficking, Hope House Emergency Youth Shelters in Chanhassen and St. Cloud, the Von Wald Group Home in Rochester, and Onward House transitional living in Eden Prairie. FOR MORE INFO: CONTACT: Janet Hallaway [email protected] ### Comments are closed.
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