Caroline Palmer

As the Safe Harbor Director in the Violence Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, Caroline Palmer focuses on the statewide response to human trafficking and exploitation (sex and labor), with a focus on the needs of sexually exploited and trafficked youth ages 24 and under. Caroline’s responsibilities include oversight of nearly 50 grants to nonprofit organizations and tribal governments, as well as coordination with public safety and human services partners. In addition, she is involved with the cross-integration of information and interventions within MDH’s Injury and Violence Prevention Section, including responses to sexual and domestic violence. Prior to joining MDH, Caroline was the Law and Policy Manager at the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault where she served as staff attorney and advocated for passage of several state laws.

The mission of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans. The MDH vision is for health equity in Minnesota, where all communities are thriving and all people have what they need to be healthy. MDH’s department-wide values include integrity, collaboration, respect, science, and accountability. As a state agency, MDH is committed to transparency in its work, continuous quality improvement, building capacity through partnerships, evidence-based strategies, evaluation, and prioritizing the lived experiences of Minnesotans in program development. MDH’s Injury and Violence Prevention Section provides data, resources, and consultation to assist in the development of community intervention and prevention programs in response to both unintentional and violent injuries.