REFUGE FOR DMST
PO BOX 90804, AUSTIN, TX 787090804 www.therefugeaustin.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE REFUGE FOR DMST'S (DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING) MISSION IS TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED, LONG-TERM RESTORATION SHELTER AND SERVICES TO GIRLS 11-17 YEARS OLD, WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED THROUGH SEX TRAFFICKING. RECOGNIZING THE LACK OF SAFE AND HOLISTIC SHELTERS FOR RESCUED CHILDREN, WE HOPE TO ESTABLISH A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR GIRLS TO HEAL AND FIND HOPE FOR A NEW LIFE. THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH MANY THERAPEUTIC SERVICE PROVIDERS WITHIN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, WE AIM TO DEVELOP A CIRCLE OF CARE AROUND EACH SURVIVOR, ADDRESSING HER UNIQUE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS. AS CHRISTIAN ABOLITIONISTS, WE BOLDLY ENVISION A CITY PASSIONATELY OPPOSED TO SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN, AND A COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO RESTORING PURPOSE, VALUE, AND CHOICE TO THE LIVES OF SURVIVORS.

OUR NATION HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A SEVERE SOCIETAL PROBLEM IN REGARDS TO THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN, ALSO KNOWN AS DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING. AS MORE CHILDREN ARE IDENTIFIED AND RESUCED FROM THEIR EXPLOITIVE SITUATION, THERE IS A GROWING NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE, LONG-TERM, TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO HEAL AND LIVE A LIFE OF PRODUCTIVITY AND HOPE. CURRENTLY, MORE CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROAD RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THEY NEED TO BEGIN THEIR HEALING JOURNEY. IN MOST CASES, IF A CHILD RECEIVES SERVICES, IT IS FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES, WITHOUT COORDINATED PLANNING, AND USUALLY LACKING IN CRITICAL AREAS OF SPECIALIZED FOCUS SUCH AS ADDRESSING THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TRAUMA, THUS HINDERING PROPER DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING FACE DEVELOPMENTAL, SOCIETAL, AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES THAT HAVE BOTH SHORT AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. OUR RESPONSE IS THE REFUGE RANCH, WHICH WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOLISTIC CARE IN A PASTORAL AND PEACEFUL SETTING FOR GIRLS AGES 11-17, WHO HAVE BEEN RESCUED OUT OF SEX TRAFFICKING. EACH GIRL IN OUR CARE WILL HAVE HER OWN PLAN OF RESTORATION, WHICH WE CALL HER CIRCLE OF CARE. IT WILL BE UNIQUE TO HER AGE, SITUATION AND NEEDS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL CARE INCLUDES ON-SITE EDUCATION SERVICES, MEDICAL CARE, THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS GARDENING, EQUINE, ART, MUSIC AND PET THERAPY, ALONG WITH ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING AND GROUP THERAPY WITH LICENSED PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS. THE GIRLS ARE HOUSED IN DISTINCTIVELY DESIGNED COTTAGES THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY, BUT ALSO A SENSE OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. THE REFUGE RANCH IS LOCATED ON 50 ACRES OF PRISTINE LAND SITUATED IN A BEAUTIFUL AND RESTORATIVE SETTING JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN. A NATIONWIDE SNAPSHOT...OVER 100,000 U.S. BORN CHILDREN ARE TRAFFICKED EACH YEAR WITHIN OUR OWN BOARDERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING SOLD FOR SEX. THE AVERAGE AGE A YOUNG GIRL IS LURED INTO THE WEB OF TRAFFICKING IS 12. THE HARSH REALITY IS THAT THIS HAPPENS TO GIRLS ACROSS ALL SOCIO- ECONOMIC, RACIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILY BACKGROUNDS. THE PRIMARY FACTOR THAT MAKES A GIRL VULNERABLE TO BEING TRAFFICKED IS HER AGE. SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN IS A SUPPLY AND DEMAND PHENOMENA, WITH THE INTERNET BEING THE PRIMARY WAY TRANSACTIONS ARE MADE TO PURCHASE A YOUNG CHILD FOR SEX. CLOSER TO HOME...CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 47,000 CHILDREN REPORTED AS MISSING EACH YEAR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 1 IN 5 OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE OR WILL BECOME HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. IN ADDITION, AS THE CRIME OF SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN IS GAINING WIDER ATTENTION, AND ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY WORKING IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE ABLE TO MORE EFFICIENTLY IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN NEEDING SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR THE TRAUMA OF SEX TRAFFICKING IS GROWING. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY A HANDFUL OF PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH THESE CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE THE KIND OF SERVICES THEY NEED. AT THE REFUGE RANCH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CARE FOR UP TO 40 GIRLS AT A TIME. FOR 2018, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A TEAM OF ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS TO DESIGN THE REFUGE RANCH FROM THE GROUND UP ON 50 DONATED ACRES, TO CREATE A HEALING COMMUNITY UNIQUELY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL TRAUMA AND SPECIFICALLY WHO NEED A PLACE TO HEAL FROM THEIR TRAUMA OF SEX TRAFFICKING. EACH ASPECT OF THE DESIGN HAS BEEN CREATED TO ENHANCE THE HEALING PROCESS. WHILE DEVELOPING THE DESIGN AND PREPARING FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT BEGAN IN 2016, WE'VE DEVELOPED MANY COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO BRING THE VERY BEST HOLISTIC SERVICES TO THE GIRLS WHILE LIVING AT THE REFUGE. A FEW OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE PREMIER FAMILY PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE HELPED US DESIGN OUR MEDICAL CLINIC AND PROTOCOLS FOR MEDICAL CARE, THE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE OUR ON-SITE SCHOOL, FOSTERING HOPE, A FOSTER CARE ORGANIZATION THAT IS HELPING US DESIGN OUR TRAINING AND COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES OF VICTIMS, AND THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, BOTH WITH CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING UNITS, AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO HELP US DESIGN OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO LEGALLY CARE FOR THE GIRLS WHO WILL BE IN OUR CARE. THE REFUGE RANCH WILL BE A 24/7 RESIDENTIAL OPERATION IN WHICH THE REFUGE FOR DMST WILL OVERSEE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY, THE HIRING AND MANAGEMENT OF ON-SITE EMPLOYEES, AND THE UPKEEP OF THE FACILITES. THERE WILL BE AN ON-SITE ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL AS THERAPIST ACTIVITY LEADERS AND HOUSE PARENTS.

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