The Haven at Southern Peaks

A Program for Sexually Exploited Youth

ABOUT
The Haven at Southern Peaks is a place of refuge and restoration for teenage girls who have been victims of human trafcking and sexual exploitation.

HAVEN

In its remote and serene Colorado setting, Haven offers the unique blend of a safe-house for victims of child sexual exploitation along with the clinical and educational services of a therapeutic residential treatment center for youth with mental and behavioral disorders. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary treatment approach with an emphasis on cognitive, experiential, and trauma-focused therapies, Haven is designed to bring about physical, emotional, and social healing to adolescents whose lives have been ravaged by the oppression and abuse of human sex trafcking.

It may be more common than You Think . . .

Every year, thousands of children in the U.S. are coerced, kidnapped or tricked by traffickers or pimps into the sex trade. Terms like human sex trafficking usually conjure up images of young girls beaten and abused in distant countries, when actually, sex trafficking happens locally in cities and towns, both large and small, throughout the United States, right in our own backyards.
Walker-Rodriguez, Amanda, and Rodney Hill, "Human Sex Trafcking," Law Enforcement Bulletin (March 2011)

THE

FACTS

Every 40 seconds a child is found missing or abducted. 1 of every 3 teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.
(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

The average age of entry into the commercial sex industry in the U.S. is 12-14 years old.
(U.S. Dept. of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section)

As many as 300,000 youth are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation annually in the U.S.
(Estes and Wiener, 2001)

The average life expectancy of a child once in prostitution is 7 years due to homicide and HIV/AIDS. (Farley, 2008)

Human trafcking is now the 2nd largest and fastest growing illegal trafcking activity in the world.
(United Nations Ofce on Drugs and Crime, 2008)

Mental and overall health problems for commercially sexually exploited children are two to ve times higher than the general population of adolescents. (MISSSEY Presentation)

WHO ARE THE KIDS AT

There are more than a million runaway and homeless youth living on the street each day in the United States. Vulnerable and without resources or support, many of these youth are targeted, lured, and coerced into a lifestyle of prostitution, and then controlled and exploited by their domestic sex trafckers (aka pimps).

HAVEN

Every act of "prostitution" where a minor is involved is actually an act of child rape and sexual exploitation and every child that is involved in prostitution is actually a victim of child abuse, yet sexually exploited minors are commonly arrested and charged with prostitution.* Some may view these girls conduct as criminal. At Haven, we recognize something more. While their actions may have violated laws and social norms, these girls are also victims of trauma and abuse. They have been exploited physically, mentally, emotionally, and nancially, and their distinctive behavioral and therapeutic needs require comprehensive treatment and trauma-informed care.
* Brantley, N. (June 2009). Framing the issues of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually Exploited Youth (MISSSEY).

Child victims of human trafcking are often presented with complex and interconnected problems, including:
n Mood / Anxiety Disorders (esp. PTSD) n Substance-abuse Disorders n Conduct Disorder / Impulse Control n Attention-decit / Hyperactivity Disorder n Dissociative Disorders n Stockholm Syndrome n Antisocial Personality Traits n Axis IV Disorders (psychological and environment problems) n STDs and other medical, nutritional, and health issues.

I walk around and carry the physical scars of the torture you put me through. The cigarette burns, the knife carvings, the piercings... how a human being can see humor in the torture, manipulation, and brainwashing of another human being is beyond comprehension. You have given me a life sentence
- Victim of sex trafcking in the U.S., to her trafcker at his sentencing.

Havens approach to care and treatment for victims of sexual exploitation is comprehensive and holistic. Our program emphasizes the enhancement of physical, social, emotional, and academic development in a safe, nurturing environment. Our clinical team utilizes Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) as the framework for each girls individualized treatment and care plan. Our medical, educational, and treatment teams ensure a healthy and therapeutic restoration experience through an array of program services, including:
n Screenings and Assessments (including Psychosocial, D&A, MH, Family, PTSD, STD, Pregnancy) n Psychological / Psychiatric Evaluations n Medical Care, with an On-site Clinic and Nursing Coverage n Case Management / Treatment Planning n Individual, Group, and Family Therapy n Substance Abuse Treatment n Survivors Groups n Competency Development (skill building, job readiness) n Year-round Educational Services through our Private, State-approved School n Recreational / Therapeutic Activities (including animal assisted therapeutic programming) n Transitional / Aftercare Planning n Family Reunication (if appropriate)

THE HAVEN TREATMENT

PROGRAM

Haven utilizes nationally renowned experts on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children for consultation, collaboration, and specialized trainings for our staff. Our caring and dedicated professional team includes Master-level clinicians, certied addictions counselors, certied special education teachers, and a Board certied psychiatrist. Our educational program offers a blend of solid core academic courses, elective classes, vocational programs, and the opportunity to participate in college courses. Credit recovery and remedial classes are available for students who have fallen signicantly behind in academic credits or grade level.
Haven is a service of the Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center, licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Joint Commission accredited, and partnering with the Sanctuary Institute for clinical and organizational change.

The Haven at Southern Peaks

For more information or to refer a child in need: Contact us at (719) 276-7500 or email info@AbraxasYFS.com