Treasured Vessels Foundation

Traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to profit from the exploitation of another person for sex or labor. Traffickers use promises of love, fulfillment of desires, a job, and threats of violence as tools to deceive their victims. Trafficking victims often experience trauma-bonds with the very people who harm them. Traffickers are often family members, using their close proximity and innate trust to take advantage of the victim. Survivors experience deep levels of complex trauma, PTSD, dissociation, severe anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, making it difficult to escape and even harder to assimilate back to a healthy lifestyle after escape.  

Many victims of sex trafficking have tried to flee from their traffickers, yet they were coerced back or felt they had no alternative but to return to this life of pain and trauma. Those who do flee, face a myriad of obstacles to overcome, including homelessness, continued physical and mental abuse, little to no money, gaps in education and employment, often a criminal record, drug dependency, and a lack of supportive friends and family.   

Research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has shown that the complex mental health needs of trafficking survivors are typically not met with most programs that only offer weekly therapy, GEDs, and life & job skills. Unfortunately, these necessary resources are woefully scarce. 100% of the survivors who have entered our program present with symptoms of dissociation, where the mind escapes the body during repeated trauma. Survivors of trafficking have complex PTSD at a minimum and many present with dissociative identity disorder. TVF is one of the few programs nationwide that will accept the most severe forms of dissociation. 

 More About TVF:

TVF’s Christ-Centered safe home program is tailored specifically to each survivor’s unique needs. We provide a vast number of services that are vital in helping these women heal and restore themselves toward a sustainable, independent lifestyle. Our team of professionals and specially trained staff offer comprehensive faith-based services, including therapy, psychiatric, medical and dental care, discipleship, culinary skills and career readiness, all in the context of connection through community. Survivors in our program develop healthy coping skills, through substance abuse support, professional nutrition consultation, karate, self-defense, music, and art. Our approach is holistic and assists strong and resilient survivors as they do the hard work of recovery.  

TVF opened our first safe home in early 2020 at a secure and undisclosed location in Collin County, Texas. Women 18 and over receive compassionate, clinical, and integrative care and therapeutic services for 6-12 months. The property is fully secured with 24-hour camera surveillance and full-time, trauma-informed staff. Women often come to TVF through law enforcement, family referrals, behavioral health facilities or other community partners. TVF refers to women in the program as Resident Interns, which is an affirming title representing their hard work, instead of referring to themselves as a patient or victim.  

TVF has served over 2,500 individuals over the past 12 months through our safe home and community outreach programs. Upon initial intake to the safe home, 100% of our residents have symptoms of PTSD with dissociative subtype, 82% have symptoms of major depressive disorder, and 71% have symptoms of an anxiety disorder. After nine months, on average, PTSD symptoms reduce by 60%, depressive symptoms reduce by 66%, and anxiety reduces by 35%. While complex trauma takes years to overcome, the impact from only a short time in the TVF program is significant. The survivors we serve overcome mental health challenges every day and work through complicated emotions and triggers.

Additionally TVF aims to impact the community through prevention education, whereby we educate students, parents, and professionals to identify human trafficking and respond appropriately.

• TVF trains youth in schools, as required by House Bill 111, about the lures of traffickers, the media through which they recruit victims, and the safeguards youth can employ to avoid the traps set to entangle them.
• TVF trains healthcare practitioners, as required by House Bill 2059, on the indicators victims might present with while under their care.
• TVF trains churches and parents in how to respond when a child or child’s friend discloses exploitation or presents with symptomology to ensure helpful survivor care and criminal investigation best practices.
• TVF trains other anti-trafficking service providers and trauma counselors in therapy efficacy, modalities, and measurement.