In the anti-trafficking field, I have often witnessed organizations losing focus as their mission drifts, given all the many areas this issue encompasses can happen quickly. But remaining true to an organization’s mission is essential for success. It is also easy to become confused with the ever-changing trends including language. The WellHouse has chosen to remain focused on our mission of offering restoration opportunities that lead to overall healing for sex trafficking survivors.

Our approach places individual needs at the core of our processes and ensures that all we choose to participate in points to serving survivors with excellence. One such approach has looked at the terms “survivor led” and “survivor informed”. By default, a residential living program will be survivor informed. Our resident survivors seek us out almost daily to share ideas and input. We’ve provided a process to express their thoughts when things are not going well, and they are also consulted when there are decisions to be made.

Creating guidance to ensure our program does no harm as we seek to be “survivor led” has involved listening, observing, and collaborating with our residents and staff. We know that we must gain deep insight into the challenges and pain points of those who are dependent on us to be truly trauma informed. This lays a foundation to carefully guide a survivor through the healing process before we approach the idea of becoming leaders. We have learned there must be distance between the trafficking and leadership responsibilities. The following are some steps we have taken to develop leaders among our very capable resident survivors:

We revised how we offer restorative opportunities that lead to healing and growth by encouraging individualized goals. Survivors regularly meet with a care team and evaluate progress and receive guidance.
Employment opportunities on campus offer survivors safety as they build a resume. Resident interns are employed with The WellHouse while still in the Core program. Staff interns have completed the Core program and are residing in the transitional living apartments as they work on site and continue working on a chosen career path. Finally, gaining off site sustainable employment or full time WellHouse employment has become an achievable and meaningful goal.
We have established an opportunity for survivors to participate in leadership training alongside our department directors. Learning from one another is powerful!

In line with the above, I was privileged to recently lead several sessions at the first Certified Peer Support of Exploitation cohort hosted by The Institute for Survivor Care! I learned so much alongside the survivors in the room, and I look forward to what these outstanding ladies will do to move this field forward in the lane of after care for survivors! Survivor-led indeed!

Letter from the CEO: Fall 2025