Virginia Beach Justice Initiative

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED ON THEIR JOURNEY TO FREEDOM.

SURVIOR SUPPORT -VOLUNTEER VICTIM ADVOCACY TRAINING: USING A PROPRIETARY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM, WE EQUIP VOLUNTEERS TO ACT AS A RESOURCE, COACH AND FRIEND TO THE CLIENTS WE SERVE. -JAIL PROGRAMMING: USING A PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM, WE PROVIDE PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL CLASSES TO INMATES, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, TEACHING THEM ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES AND RELATIONSHIPS AND THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE HUMAN BODY. IT IS IN THESE CLASSES, WHERE MANY REALIZE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED. IDENTIFICATION IS THE FIRST STEP IN THEIR JOURNEY TO HEALING. -CASE MANAGEMENT: WE EMPLOY CASE MANAGERS WHO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR TRAINED ADVOCATES, HELP TO MEET THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF LOCAL SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THIS INCLUDES PROVISION OF BASIC NEEDS (FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER), COURT ADVOCACY FOR ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING, ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING AND GETTING TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO CAN PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING, JOB TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT. -MENTAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: IN ADDITION TO OUR VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES AND CASE MANAGERS, WE CONTRACT WITH SELECTED LICENSED CLINICAL THERAPISTS IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE COMPLEX TRAUMA OUR CLIENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED. WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS, IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO: -SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCH NEW (DBA) NAME AND BRAND IDENTITY AND MERGE THE ACQUISTION OF RICHMOND JUSTICE INITIATIVE -IDENTIFIED 69 NEW VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION -PLACED 51 SURVIVORS IN LONG-TERM TREATMENT PROGRAMS -PROVIDED 240 INSTANCES OF COURT ADVOCACY, WITH 96% FAVORABLE OUTCOMES -PROVIDED FOR BASIC NEEDS ON 472 OCCASIONS -COVERED THE COST OF TRAUMA THERAPY FOR 33 CLIENTS -PROVIDED 84 REFERRALS TO CLIENTS FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, JOB TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT

AWARENESS AND EDUCATION -AWARENESS & TRAINING: WE REGULARLY SERVE AS SPEAKERS OR PANELISTS TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, OTHER NON-PROFITS AND THE MILITARY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE ALSO PROVIDE MORE IN-DEPTH, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC TRAININGS FOR THOSE ALONG THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONTINUUM, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROBATION OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS. -PREVENTION EDUCATION: WE INTRODUCE LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CURRICULUM WITH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING AND PREVENTING THE NEXT GENERATION FROM BEING TRAFFICKED. WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEERS, IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO: -REACH NEARLY 20,000 YOUTH (11-17) IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITH OUR PREVENTION PROJECT CURRICULUM -DELIVER 47 PRESENTATIONS AND INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC TRAINING SESSIONS, REACHING NEARLY 1,900 PEOPLE IN THE GREATER HAMPTON ROADS AND RICHMOND COMMUNITIES