When Rebecca first arrived at Radiant Futures’ shelter, she was very guarded. She shared very little with her Advocates about her life—only that she was being forced to work as an escort and was eager to leave this exploitative situation. Referred to Radiant Futures by her case manager at Waymakers, she struggled to adapt to life in the shelter. 

Rebecca kept to herself, avoiding participation in group activities and frequently missing her counseling appointments. During her meetings with Advocates, she often expressed feelings of being overwhelmed and unmotivated. 

Then, something changed… 

Rebecca scheduled an appointment to meet with Radiant Futures’ Human Trafficking Specialist. They gathered together—along with both her Shelter Advocate and Clinical Advocate—to assess Rebecca’s barriers, identify long-term goals, and develop a plan. Rebecca expressed her priority: finding stable living arrangements. Her Advocates assisted in laying out achievable short-term goals that would pave the way toward the self-sufficiency she sought. Opening up to her Advocates, Rebecca shared that their support made her feel cared for and ignited the motivation to ‘make something of [her]self.’ 

Following this meeting, Rebecca started attending counseling appointments regularly and joined a Personal Empowerment Program class, where she found empowerment through the support of other survivors. Within weeks, she enrolled in a continuation school to pursue her GED and lower division college courses. Securing financial aid, she also landed a job by month’s end. 

Each completed short-term goal kept Rebecca motivated, fueling her desire to continue working toward her future. Although she faced challenging days, with her Advocates’ help, she learned to identify and address these ‘Bad Days,’ seeking assistance rather than pushing through alone. Rebecca expressed growing comfort in seeking help, realizing her worthiness of support and finding a safe place free from judgment at Radiant Futures. 

As Radiant Futures’ Advocates built rapport and trust, Rebecca eventually shared that she had a son she hadn’t seen in three years. Determined to include him in her goals, she prepared to take the necessary steps for their reunion.” 

Human trafficking survivors endure incredible trauma and abuse, making it challenging for them to trust others with their stories and seek help out of fear of potential further harm. Once Rebecca felt secure and realized she could confide in the Advocates at Radiant Futures, she began to share her story, articulate her needs, and identify the obstacles she faced. Collaborating with her Advocates, she successfully dismantled these barriers, ultimately achieving her goals. 

If you would like more information about human trafficking or the services Radiant Futures offers human trafficking survivors, please visit our website at www.radiantufutres.org or call our 24-hour helpline at (877) 531-5522.