Nurturing Hope and Healing: A Vision for Corrie's House
As the Executive Director of Corrie's House, I am honored to share with you our heartfelt mission and vision - the WHY we’re building Corrie’s House.. Every day, we're driven by our unwavering commitment to provide a much needed home for minors, ages 12-17, who’ve been sex trafficked in Minnesota. It’s almost impossible to comprehend the complexity of trauma these young victims experience, and our mission is to provide a way forward to restoration, renewal, and resiliency. I'd like to take you on a journey through our vision.
When I first joined Corrie's House, I saw a potential to offer life changing support for our most vulnerable and exploited youth. I saw the chance for healing of young souls and the opportunity for dreams to be reignited when comprehensive, tailored support is provided. With this vision as our compass, we’ve been working under advisement with Wellspring Living and Minnesota Safe Harbor experts to develop an evidence based program that will yield positive, life changing results.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. Trauma-Informed Care: We understand that victims/survivors have experienced complex trauma. We’re committed to provide a safe environment, free from judgment, where trust is created, and skills are built to help residents cope with past trauma.
2. Victim-Centered Approach: These survivors deserve to be heard, to be understood, and to be respected. By placing the rights of each survivor at the forefront of all our actions, we’ll ensure that each survivor is treated with dignity and acceptance.
3. Strengths-Based Philosophy: The scars of their past do not define their future. Our residents possess incredible strengths and talents, waiting to be uncovered and nurtured. We believe in empowering them to recognize their unique abilities and potential.
4. Culturally Responsive Environment: Our world is rich with diverse cultures and backgrounds. It's essential to value and understand these differences in order to support their unique needs.
5. A Judgment-Free Zone: It is our commitment to create a judgment-free space. This is non-negotiable. Here, residents can be themselves, unburdened by stigma and free to heal.
OUR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES
Therapy: Many victims/survivors of sex trafficking have experienced complex trauma. Trauma-informed professionals will provide individual and group therapy to support participants to address psychological and emotional trauma that they may have experienced in the past so that they may cast their eyes to the future.
Case Management: Our team will work closely with each resident to understand their unique needs, to set achievable goals and to provide personalized support and care on their path to recovery.
Education: Education is a passport to the future. Working with the department of education, we will provide personalized educational support to assist every participant to achieve their potential toward completing their education.
Life Skills: To equip residents for a transition toward independent living, they will learn life skills lessons in several areas such as decision making, work/study habits, household habits, cooking, and managing a budget.
Healthy Relationships: Learning healthy physical and emotional boundaries are a fundamental aspect for successful recovery. We aim to model healthy behaviors, create a safe and trusting environment, build strong communication skills, and help develop skills for empowerment and self-advocacy.
Employment Support: Gaining skills for employment is foundational to a successful transition toward eventual independent living. We will offer guidance and resources for job readiness and for preparing participants for a life of self-sufficiency.
Our comprehensive, multi-disciplinary service model is designed to support our residents to recover from their trauma and to build a solid path forward with the skills and the courage to move forward with renewed hope.
Our completion of program development and our acquisition of a home will culminate this coming summer of 2024. We’ll then be positioned to submit for state and county licensing. The world we envision for these youth is within our sites! We invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Together, as a community of supporters, we will enable survivors to rewrite their stories.
Thank you for being a part of our journey and their future. Together, we embody hope and change.
With gratitude,
Renée
Executive Director, Corrie's House