During the first 30 days, survivors are assessed for all medical and dental needs while beginning treatment. Survivors begin working to obtain vital documents, transcripts, and a plan is created to address any CPS or legal needs. We assess their educational needs and begin orientation to our program. Survivors begin working with the therapist to complete a psychiatric evaluation and establish treatment goals. They begin learning healthy coping skills and how to use their 5 senses to ground themselves. They also start medication stabilization, along with individual and group therapy.

After the initial 30 days, survivors are able to make 6-week phone calls, attend regular weekly house meetings, and are expected to learn how to appropriately and effectively communicate needs and wants to our team. Our team continues to work with the survivors to obtain vital documents. In phase 2, survivors are provided the opportunity to enroll in education, begin tutoring, and are taught basic to intermediate life skills. They learn healthy ways to resolve conflict and begin learning in group therapy about healthy boundaries, communication, and strengthening their coping skills. During this period of time, life-threatening behaviors have significantly decreased. Survivors begin working with a therapist on Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

After a minimum of 6+ months, survivors who are able to demonstrate appropriate use of technology, attend school online. They are able to have family visits and begin financial literacy plans. Survivors begin to advocate for themselves and are able to exhibit appropriate behavior in public. They demonstrate increased appropriate language to ask for support and should need minimal assistance from our team to address conflict. At this point, survivors are learning more about the impact of developmental trauma, while implementing new skills as they are working toward rebuilding safe relationships. They are no longer engaging in life-threatening behaviors and are able to challenge cognitive distortions with minimal support. During this phase, they have identified family roles, rules, and expectations. They begin consistently using coping skills to regulate.

When a resident reaches Phase 4 (at least 1 year into treatment) they are able to begin working outside the TVF house. They are able to build connections and community outside of TVF and family therapy becomes available to them as needed. By phase 4, survivors have achieved competency in all areas of their core life skills, open a bank account, and are able to use personal electronics with parameters. The survivors are now working at a deeper level to address trauma and negative beliefs about themselves. Survivors complete a 12-month assessment and continue to work with the therapist on resolving trauma utilizing EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Polyvagal Theory.

In Phase 5 survivors are able to obtain a vehicle with insurance for transportation. At this point, they have demonstrated 6 months of stable employment. They are also required to have completed a leadership course. They must have $1,000 saved in an emergency fund as well as have 2 months of rent saved in preparation for their transition out of the program. During this phase, survivors wrap up any remaining trauma work, consolidate gains, and incorporate positive beliefs about themselves. At this point, survivors work to integrate a cohesive self, establishing healthy communication and maintain relationships outside of TVF. Phase 5 concludes with a celebratory graduation ceremony.

Beyond phase 5 and outside of a TVF home, survivors continue therapy and minimal case management to help ensure the gains they have made, the healthy coping mechanisms they have learned, and their leadership skills are supporting their healthy lifestyle as expected. Recovery from trafficking takes a lifetime, but with proper tools, we see survivors thrive in the workplace, in marriages, as parents, and some even choose to focus their vocation for the benefit of other survivors.