An initiative called Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking is one of three finalists for the National Association of Secretaries of State’s 2023 IDEAS Award. IBAT is a member organization that raises awareness for human trafficking and promotes Safe at Home, Iowa’s address confidentiality program for victims of violent crime. The initiative “is making a difference in communities across our state,” Paul Pate, Iowa’s secretary of state, said in a prepared statement. “With this initiative, we have the ability to not only raise awareness to recognize the signs of human trafficking, but also work to end this horrible crime.” The announcement comes as other states across the country are replicating the Iowa program and working to end human trafficking in their respective areas, according to a news release. Mississippi recently launched MBAT, and other states are beginning to follow. The idea for Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking originated in August 2021. The statewide initiative and education program has reached more than 630 members in Iowa and continues to grow. The NASS IDEAS Award was established in 2011 to recognize significant state contributions to the association’s mission.