Mary Twis, associate professor of social work in the Harris College of Nursing & Health
Sciences at Texas Christian University, has received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation
to support the completion of her research on enhancing law enforcement response to
human trafficking. Specifically, it focuses on the integration of trauma- and violence-
informed care (TVIC) principles into their work with trafficking survivors. 
The $16,000 grant will support the completion of research activities and the training of law enforcement across the state of Texas, which aligns with the Texas Bar Foundation’s stated goals of encouraging and promoting legal assistance to disadvantaged people and to strengthen the court system and the related administration of justice.
“This project matters because how we train law enforcement to recognize and respond to trauma can change the trajectory of a human trafficking survivor’s life,” Twis said. “By integrating TVIC principles into human trafficking investigations, we’re not only improving legal outcomes, we’re showing survivors that the system recognizes them and values their dignity.”
Twis is a leading scholar in the field of human trafficking research. Her work focuses on understanding the complex intersections between trauma, systemic inequities and exploitation, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications exploring pathways into and out of trafficking. Through community-engaged research and national and international collaborations, Twis aims to transform how systems, including law enforcement, respond to survivors with dignity, care and accountability.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $29 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.