189 – Lessons Learned Serving Domestic Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Dr. Sandie Morgan and Dave Stachowiak inquire about lessons learned from The Lighthouse, a transitional living program for young women who are survivors of sex trafficking, from the program supervisor, Polly Williams. Polly has over 18 years of experience in all aspects of working with youth including those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance abuse. She developed and implemented Orangewood Foundation's The Lighthouse in 2016 using a framework of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and a survivor-centered approach. Polly introduces a thoughtful report and review of 11 learned lessons from this program. Key Points At The Lighthouse, a victim-centered approach is giving the power back over to the trafficked victims and empowering them to say what their needs are, what their concerns are, and for them to lead survivor-driven services. #1 Labels - It is important to take an individualist approach to labels because some residents embraced being labeled as "victim" or "survivor", while others were reminded of their past traumas. #2 Curriculum - Having a daily, structured curriculum held residents back from societal reintegration, an individualized program was needed to empower the women. #3 Trust - At The Lighthouse, there's a large emphasis on trust to promote safety, security, and ultimately to reduce detrimental behaviors through a "restorative justice approach". #4 Cell Phones - Creating safety protocols together, both residents and staff, prevented controlling actions that triggered and re-traumatized residents. #5 Staff - Having staff that can provide guidance and suggestions rather than being hyper-vigilant is significant in creating a therapeutic environment. #6 Life Skill Development - They found that role modeling life skills is more effective and impactful in comparison to life skill groups. #7 Resident Guidelines - Residents and staff collectively create guidelines in order to have realistic expectations for each other and create a sense of empowerment. #8 Case Management - Residents responded more favorably towards case management when meetings occurred offsite at their chosen locations. #9 Interviews - During interviews they do not require details of time in ‘the life’ and take breaks when needed in order to minimize risks of re-traumatization. #10 Applicants Under 18 - An applicant aged 17 years, turning 18 within the next month, has the option to spend her days at The Lighthouse, to relieve the stress and anxiety of moving to a new program. #11 Reducing Length of Time Back in ‘The Life” - When a resident chose to self-exit The Lighthouse and go back to her trafficker, staff pro-actively remained in contact. The goal was to reduce her length of time back in ‘the life’, through the provision of compassionate and unconditional support, and two months later she asked to come “home.” Resources Orangewood Foundation The Lighthouse Report & Review 91 - Rescue and the Stages of Change Are you enjoying the show? If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe or rate the podcast on iTunes by clicking here. Click here for FAQs about podcasts and how to subscribe. Haven’t been receiving our newsletter? Visit our homepage to join today. Contact us with questions, comments, or suggestions at feedback@endinghumantrafficking.org. Transcript Dave: [00:00:00] You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode number 189, Lessons Learned Serving Domestic Survivors of Sex Trafficking. Production Credits: [00:00:10] Produced by Innovate Learning, maximizing human potential. Dave: [00:00:31] Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. My name is Dave Stachowiak. Sandie: [00:00:36] And my name is Sandie Morgan. Dave: [00:00:38] And this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Sandie,