I grew up in a small town in Alabama, about 25 miles north of Birmingham. My brother and I had loving parents and we never went without. We were raised in church where our Dad served as a Deacon, and we were always surrounded by Godly friends. When I became a preteen, I remember having all of these emotions that I couldn’t seem to express without consequences. I became very rebellious against my parents, unable to focus at school, and was losing control of my life.
Read MoreSince our last rescue update, we have received eight women into our program with seven of them continuing to heal with us! The most common way that The WellHouse receives a survivor of human trafficking is through our amazing partnerships with other organizations, but anyone can make a referral by calling our intake phone number or sending the rescue department an email.
Read MoreThe Sound of Freedom movie has generated a variety of opinions. Regardless of where feelings and opinions land, it is clear that the release of the movie has made an impact by making the public aware of child sex trafficking. At The WellHouse, we have long been aware of this deplorable activity that steals the souls and spirits of its victims. Being in the work of offering restorative services to victims, we know that while rescue is essential, and we wish we saw more of it, the question remains - what about the needs of those rescued after they are removed from these unimaginable atrocities?
Read MoreThere are countless articles and research on the topic of Trauma Informed Care. How it is defined often depends on whose perspective is being given. A residential living setting such as The WellHouse provides a unique perspective since we are literally living and interacting daily (24 hours per day actually) with those who have experienced severe complex trauma, often since childhood.
Read MoreTwenty-five women and eight children are currently being served on The WellHouse campus, and we know it takes a village to treat their trauma in a holistic way. Our volunteers step into gaps daily and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support. Two new volunteer-led classes have begun on campus! Our new Bible journaling class has been a wonderful way for residents to experience the living and active Word of God using their creativity.
Read MoreIn the Fall of 2018, I met a sweet, funny, and attractive guy who I could relate to in so many ways. Occasionally we would go out and get drinks at a bar, and I always had fun and enjoyed my time with him. Then came the black out periods. I would wake up frightened after going out with him because I couldn’t remember anything I did from the night before.
Read MoreAlthough my favorite thing about working at The WellHouse is the women that I get to interact with, a close second is our beautiful campus where the restoration work takes place. As you drive through the WellHouse gates, you can immediately feel an overwhelming sense of peace that can only come from God.
Read MoreSince 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.
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