What We Do
Poiema fights human trafficking through three key initiatives: Education, Community Engagement, and Survivor Empowerment.
1. Educate - To date, we have educated more than 37,000 people about the dangers of human trafficking through our prevention education program. We speak to teachers, students, counselors, nurses, doctors, foster parents, staff who work with at-risk youth, law enforcement, churches, rotary clubs, etc.
2. Engage - Engaging the public to be eyes and ears in the community and identify human trafficking victims is essential to ending this modern-day slavery. Poiema has over 400 active volunteers involved in community outreach. Each Saturday, volunteers from one of our eighteen campuses distribute posters of missing minors throughout the metroplex. They visit hotels, truck stops, DART rail stations, first responders, etc. Each month, more than 600 locations receive posters. To date, Poiema has assisted with the recovery of more than 520 children, and sadly, more than half were already victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation.
3. Empower - Poiema has a Safe House where we provide the support necessary for survivors of human trafficking to overcome their abuse. Since opening in 2017, our Safe House has served 342 women, from providing housing, community, and access to high-quality trauma-informed care to non-residential services such as the provision of supportive resources (hygiene items, clothing, etc.), connection with other service providers (legal, medical, etc.), and referrals to other collaborative organizations (e.g. shelters open to minors or able to address addiction).
Why It Matters
According to a study by the Safe House Project, 80% of human trafficking survivors who do NOT have a safe place to heal from their trauma are re-victimized.
This is what makes the work we do a crucial component of any survivor's healing and restoration journey. Your financial gifts provide the counseling, transportation, safety (alarm system monitoring, etc.), and daily household needs (food, bills, etc.) for each of our residents, as well as the staffing necessary to care for and support each survivor along the way.
Safe housing isn't just about having a roof over your head. It's the life each program participant reclaims, the healing she finds, and the new story she writes. Your donations provide the bed where she'll feel safe for the first time in years, the desk where she'll plan out her future and complete her education, and the dresser where she'll keep the clothes that she chooses, among so many other things.
This month, we'll highlight the transformation you can help make possible and show how your support provides each precious survivor in our Safe House with Room for Restoration.
The Poiema Foundation educates the public and raises awareness in order to prevent sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other methods of sexual exploitation. Poiema also operates a safe house where survivors of human trafficking receive long-term, trauma informed care. We facilitate the restoration journey of women by providing for their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
It takes a little more than $75,000 to house and care for a full home of program participants for the year.
That includes:
- housing costs (security, utilities, maintenance, etc.)
- basic needs (groceries, clothing, toiletries, transportation, medical appointments, prescriptions, etc.)
- therapeutic care (counseling, various therapies, psychological care, etc.)
That does not include:
- staff salaries
- staff training and personal care
STAFFING:
We are HIRING!
Night and Weekend Staff:
We are on the lookout for women who are willing to commit to one night per week, or one weekend per month, to be present with the residents at our Safe House. These are not clinical positions, so no experience is required; our night and weekend support staff are simply asked to be a comforting presence and to quickly alert our full-time staff should any needs arise.
PARTNERS:
We are still growing our network of support for our residents, so if you or someone you know operate a practice (medical, dental, mental health, etc.) that would be interested in partnering with us, please let us know!
Poiema does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to: hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, and vendors.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Event
Rock the Block - North Texas Giving Day Event
Downtown Rockwall
September 18, 2025 - September 19, 2025
In-Person Event
Trauma to Triumph - Anti-Trafficking Fundraising Dinner
Stonebriar Community Church
October 24, 2025 - October 25, 2025
Organization name
Poiema Foundation
Causes
Human Trafficking & Exploitation
Operating Budget
$500,000 - $999,999
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Denton, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx
Address
PO Box 757