Thistle Farms Inc

GIVING WOMEN SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION, AND ADDICTION A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES - OUR 2-YEAR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS BASED IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. WE ARE ABLE TO HOUSE UP TO 28 RESIDENTS AT A TIME IN A THERAPEUTIC SETTING THAT OFFERS WOMEN SURVIVORS A PEACEFUL PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMATIVE, SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY THROUGH TWO YEARS OF RENT-FREE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, COUNSELING, EMPLOYMENT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. WHEN ENTERING THE PROGRAM, OUR RESIDENTS HELP CREATE THEIR OWN PERSONALIZED PLAN FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE AND THERAPEUTIC NEEDS. FOR THE FIRST 4-6 MONTHS, RESIDENTS FOCUS ON RECOVERY, ATTENDING GROUP MEETINGS, MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL COURSES. WHILE IN THE PROGRAM, WOMEN ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR OUR SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A 1 FOR 1 MATCH OF RESIDENT'S SAVINGS PER YEAR. AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, WOMEN BECOME CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION, A CELEBRATORY EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE EACH SPRING. AND AFTER GRADUATION, MANY WOMEN CONTINUE WORKING IN THISTLE FARMS' SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND OFTEN MOVE INTO FULL-TIME AND SUPERVISORY POSITIONS. OTHERS TAKE THE SKILLS THEY HAVE ACQUIRED AND FIND WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO OFFER A PROGRAM WITHIN THE TENNESSEE PRISON FOR WOMEN CALLED THISTLE ON THE INSIDE, WHICH ALLOWS WOMEN TO BEGIN THEIR HEALING JOURNEY WITHIN PRISON WALLS. WOMEN IN THIS PROGRAM RECEIVE EDUCATION AND GROUP THERAPY THAT, UPON RELEASE, EASES THEIR TRANSITION INTO ONE OF OUR MAGDALENE HOMES.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISES - RESIDENTS AND GRADUATES OF OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM ARE EMPLOYED IN ONE OF OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES. HERE THE WOMEN CAN LEARN NEW JOB SKILLS AND MAKE A LIVING WAGE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES. BODY & HOME, THISTLE FARMS' LARGEST NONPROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, CREATES NATURAL BATH AND BODY PRODUCTS THAT ARE AS HEALING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AS THEY ARE FOR THE WOMEN WHO CREATE THEM. WHAT STARTED WITH JUST A FEW VOLUNTEERS IN A CHURCH KITCHEN HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONAL BRAND THAT PRODUCES MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT PRODUCT LINES. EVERYTHING WE PRODUCE IS HAND POURED IN SMALL BATCHES BY WOMEN SURVIVORS, USING PURE ESSENTIAL OILS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND HEALING. OUR PRODUCTS ARE FREE OF SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES, PARABENS, OR PETROLEUM BASED INGREDIENTS. THE CAFE AT THISTLE FARMS IS A RESTAURANT AND SPECIAL EVENT SPACE LOCATED AT THE HEART OF THE THISTLE FARMS CAMPUS. WITH A PRODUCE-DRIVEN, FULL- SERVICE MENU, THE CAFE SERVES LOCALLY-SOURCED BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND NASHVILLE'S ONLY DAILY TEA SERVICE. IN ADDITION, THE CAFE AT THISTLE FARMS OFFERS AN ARRAY OF OPTIONS AND SERVICES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. THISTLE FARMS GLOBAL CREATES ECONOMIC FREEDOM FOR WOMEN SURVIVORS WORLDWIDE BY HELPING TO LAUNCH NEW SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATING EXISTING ENTERPRISES INTO OUR SUPPLY CHAIN, AND CONNECTING WOMEN PRODUCERS DIRECTLY WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. WITH THE SUPPORT AND SALES GENERATED THROUGH THISTLE FARMS GLOBAL, PARTNER ENTERPRISES CAN HIRE MORE WOMEN, INCREASE WAGES, AND REINVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

NATIONAL NETWORK - THE THISTLE FARMS NATIONAL NETWORK IS COMPRISED OF LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO CONNECTING SURVIVORS OF PROSTITUTION, TRAFFICKING, AND ADDICTION TO HOPE, HEALING, AND EMPOWERMENT. TO DATE, OVER 90 ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAVE PROGRAMS BASED ON THISTLE FARMS' MODEL OF RECOVERY; 57 OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS TO HOUSE WOMEN SURVIVORS, WHILE THE OTHER HALF ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.