In It for the Long Term

Gracehaven Case Management:

MEETING NEEDS FOR THE LONG TERM

By Natalie Bunn

Gracehaven Case Manager

As a Gracehaven Community Case Manager, my job is to meet with survivors wherever they are: at home, in foster care, in detention or other residential facilities. We meet weekly when we can, and help them with a variety of needs, everything from helping them shop for food or apply for a job to how to organize their time and money. Every client’s needs are different.

I’ve been working with “Sheila” for several months. Sheila is 19 and is currently serving time in a DYS facility. She was hesitant at first to share much about her trafficking experience. However, after she saw that I was going to be a consistent and trustworthy person in her life, she began to trust me and open up about the trauma she deals with. This is an important step in her therapy, and in helping her not fall back into trafficking once she is released.

At DYS, in addition to my weekly visits, Sheila has a mental health therapist, an alcohol and drug counselor, an art therapist and a case manager at DYS. And recently she was linked with a YFC mentor and a YFC volunteer who is helping to tutor her as she studies to earn her GED. It may seem like a lot of people, but so many of our survivors have experienced such complex trauma they need and respond to this level of involvement.

And it is beginning to reap benefits. Sheila shared with me recently that she is very encouraged by all of the support and wants to be a mentor to other girls in her facility and encourage them to make wise decisions that will help them succeed in life. She also is excited to learn more about God and having Bible studies with her mentor. She is not sure when she will be released, but whenever that is we will be with her in providing whatever needs she may have and helping guide her to make positive and productive life choices.

OVER THE EDGE A GREAT SUCCESS

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make Over the Edge such a success. Our third year was our biggest yet. We had 103 rappellers and raised more than $220,000 in the fight to end child sex trafficking. We are so grateful to all of our corporate and community sponsors, rappellers and volunteers who helped to make this such a wonderful awareness-raising experience.

AT THE HOUSE

We have had several graduations since February. Our graduates have become a solid support system for each other, and are active in the community. One graduate in particular enjoys calling the residents at the house and reading Bible verses to them, and encouraging them to continue to work through the program.

One of our residents will soon testify against her rapist in court. She is nervous, but also excited to read her survivor impact statement. We ask for prayers and justice, as our young lady confronts a very intense milestone in her recovery. "I don't know what I would do without the love of Jesus, and the support of Gracehaven staff" she says.

Our residents have loved their art class over the past five weeks, and are now enrolling in a dance class this week. "It has allowed me to express myself," one resident says.

We had one young lady who only stayed with us for six weeks, until she turned 18. But she completed 3.5 high school credits during her time with us.

THANK YOU

to These Gracehaven Champions

A group of nearly 60 young professional with NextLevel Trainings VIP15 raised more than $223,000 in 27 days. They also collected 2,355 tangible goods and volunteered more than 4,588 hours of service.

The Knights of St. Peter Claver and Women's Auxillary invited us to their Sunday mass on April 29th. They presented Gracehaven with a check for $1,000, and several hundred dollars in gift cards. Thank you to all the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver!

The Penny Harvest Club of the Columbus Gifted Academy donated $274.30 to Gracehaven. We're so appreciative of this effort by these elementary kids.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

Gracehaven was asked to visit the pregnant inmates at Franklin Medical Center (Corrections Facility) to share about sex trafficking. We spoke with 45 young women about the dangers of sex trafficking and how vitally important it is for them to be an active support system for their unborn children. These women learned a lot, and invited Gracehaven back to participate in their group baby shower.

During the last few months we have reached more than 1,000 youth in various schools for prevention education, and trained nearly 400 adults on how to intervene if they come in contact with a victim.

If you would like to request a Gracehaven speaker to come to your meeting or event, call us at 614.302.9515 or email at [email protected] .

WE COULD USE...

Sports Equipment

Art Supplies

To donate, call Brooke Pollard at 614.302.9515 or [email protected] .

HOW YOU CAN HELP

PRAY - Managing a house of teenage girls can be exciting as well as challenging. Pray for the girls and the staff to create a healthy and positive living experience.

SHARE - Tell others about Gracehaven and the plight of these special young ladies.

GIVE - We always need funds to help facilitate our many outreaches. Please consider a gift today to help victims of human trafficking. CLICK HERE

VOLUNTEER - If you have a heart for the mission and want to use your talents to help, please contact us. CLICK HERE

SEE THE STORY - Come to a one-hour presentation on Gracehaven and other key parts of YFC's Social Impact outreach. CLICK HERE

GRACEHAVEN | 614.302.9515 | [email protected] | www.gracehaven.me