Girls Rising Above Child Exploitation

About Us

GRACE’s mission to support, empower, and provide services to trafficked, exploited, and at-risk youth ages 12 to 24. GRACE’s vision is for every impacted child to realize their worth and be given opportunities that will guide, encourage, and inspire them. Through weekly afterschool programming and long-term direct client support services, GRACE is restoring hope, self-esteem and life skills so these young women can become thriving members of society.

GRACE addresses gap needs for survivors, including emergency situations, so they can more successfully move forward in their lives. GRACE may provide temporary shelter to prevent homelessness or to help someone get out of a dangerous situation. Gap support might also include groceries, driver’s education classes, clothing for interviews, apartment furnishings, baby gear and new mom supplies, diapers and wipes, childcare, college application fees, job assistance, back-to-school-supplies, or hygiene and self-care kits.

Many of GRACE’s clients face housing instability, which is a huge challenge to overcome because of how dependent on their trafficker a survivor may have been for housing. GRACE Refuge’s 21-day residential space allows survivors to feel stability—often for the first time in their life—so they can focus on motherly duties and enroll in wraparound services, instead of fearing where they will be sleeping at night. These services establish a foundation for immediate shelter and long-term recovery and healing.