Since the last rescue report, we have had 8 women receive services at The WellHouse and 4 of those women are still with us! Currently, I am seeing a trend with survivors coming to us with severe mental health disorders. Mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, dissociative disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder are common in the women we serve.
Read MoreAnd now, as all the efforts have given way to true service for the most vulnerable among us who have endured unspeakable horrors, we see the need to expand the Team. The average age of WellHouse Child youth is 13-14, meaning their abuse likely began much earlier, and the incidents of familial trafficking (family members trafficking the child) bears out the 50% rate of occurrence found by recent studies.
Read MoreJoin us as we sit down to interview our Chief Program Officer, Marlie Hyde, about all things WellHouse Child. Marlie discusses the background and original vision for the program, a typical day in the life for one of our minor residents, staffing model, and the six phases of the program.
Read MoreIn March, we hired a new volunteer coordinator, Emily Jones! She lives in Odenville with her husband and three precious children. Emily has a background in the nursing field and has joined our team with enthusiasm, compassion, and skill. We are so excited to welcome her into The WellHouse family. We have had some wonderful volunteers throughout the first quarter of the year…
Read MoreBetween the month of January and the time this report was written, we have received approximately 50 inquiries between the crisis phone and email regarding our services. Of those 50, three women have joined our program at The WellHouse, and I am currently working with approximately five more women to see if our program is a good fit for their needs.
Read More“Trauma and drug addiction have plagued my life for as long as I can remember. IV drug use took me captive. I was a slave to sin and had lost myself and all sense of hope for my future. When I first came to the WellHouse, I had no faith and no sense of direction for my life.”
Read MoreMeasuring success in not always black and white! In our world of residential living, we can provide data on how many were served, how many services were offered, how many “graduated”, and so forth. But, measuring internal effects that guide a person to become who she was created to be differs from person to person.
Read More30 women and girls are currently resting and pursuing healing at The WellHouse. And, each of them is worthy and deserving of a magical Christmas. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, each one will experience just that! It is a joy and privilege to be reminded daily of the true meaning of Christmas, and I am confident the women and girls at The WellHouse will see Christ in all they receive this season.
Read More“I grew up as a small town girl from rural Alabama, protected and sheltered from the dangers of the big city, or so I thought. I was raised by Godly parents who did the best they could, both coming from broken homes and trying to give me a different kind of life than they knew. As trauma has it, the inevitable happened….”
Read More“As life went on things only got worse for me. Now I see God wasn't escalating my problems, he was just getting me to the feet of Jesus. I am glad I got tangled up. I am glad I got through alive! I thank God for my rebirth because I will never be the woman who is caught in those acts again.”
Read More“Growing up with my two brothers, we were raised by our grandparents, living in Kentucky and Florida. We had a very happy childhood and we were always well-provided for by our loving and kind grandparents. Some might think it’s strange that a happy, loved, little girl would grow up to be an addict and a prostitute, but that is exactly what happened to me.”
Read More“The wonderful privilege of journeying with survivors of human trafficking as they take advantage of opportunities for restoration is life changing – for the survivor and the helper. Along the way, we’ve also enjoyed facilitating an organizational structure that allows us to manage and grow great leaders.”
Read More”It has been just over a month since I started as Volunteer Coordinator, and it has been a tremendous blessing. I came into this role after serving as an intern in the Summer of 2021, so I am familiar with the call to serve alongside The WellHouse ministry. But, I could have never anticipated how much joy I would find helping others step into this mission.
Read MoreSince our last Rescue update, The WellHouse has accepted 7 new residents into our restorative program. Rescue happens in a number of different ways, but it almost always happens when someone identifies a victim. We share these stories so you can know how to identify a victim and what to do when a victim needs your help.
Read More“As Director of Trauma Therapy and a Counseling Professional, it is my ethical duty to stay apprised of the current trends in psychotherapy. Neurofeedback, a new approach to mental health treatment, is a type of therapeutic intervention that regulates brain wave activity in order for our brains to function in a healthier way.”
Read MoreOne of my favorite women in scripture is Zipporah, the wife of Moses. In one courageous act, Zipporah drew herself, her son, and her husband back under the protection of God. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and her position as a woman to regain alignment with the Father. That had to be terrifying! Zipporah understood the power of God.
Read MoreIn the spirit of vulnerability and transparency, I am sharing openly with you in this article. We are all very willing to share when great things are happening, but, how about when there are challenges? How willing are we as partners, collaborators, and friends, to rally around one another in support when things are less than great, as they often can be in this work?
Read MoreWe have a special place in our heart for Penny Billings here at The WellHouse. She has been a volunteer for about three years now, and we are very thankful for the vast work that she has done. Working with ministries like The WellHouse, you learn quickly that while plans can be a good thing, opportunities from God are so important to look for, and that is exactly how Penny came to us.
Read MoreSince our last Rescue update, The WellHouse has assisted on one sting operation and accepted twelve new residents into our restorative program. Rescue happens in a number of different ways, but it almost always happens when someone identifies a victim. We share these stories so you can know how to identify a victim and what to do when a victim needs your help.
Read MoreWhen I was a little girl, I wanted to be a reporter when I grew up. I loved roller skating with friends and playing in my neighborhood until the streetlights came on. I never dreamed of becoming a drug dealer, addict, or prostitute, but I became all three. At age 13, I began drinking and smoking marijuana after my parents divorced. It was a terrible custody battle, and the loss of my family dynamic left me heartbroken and rebellious.
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