Empowering Trafficking Survivors at The Children’s Village
January 2025
In the Spring of 2023, Jonathan Regis stepped into a life-changing role as a youth care counselor working at one of CV’s residential facilities that serves as a safe haven dedicated to helping young women who are survivors of trafficking. Mr. Regis wants to offer them more than just safety— to help them gain confidence, find their voice, and build a future away from the streets.
At The Children’s Village, we want to ensure our spaces offer healing and hope to youth. Our short-term care shelters provide community housing along with essential medical and mental health support for those who are survivors of trafficking, teenagers who are pregnant or parenting, and youth who have run away from home or experienced homelessness. These spaces are designed to empower youth to reach their full potential through individual therapy and group counseling sessions. Our goal is to reunite them with their families or guardians when safe and feasible.
At the heart of our work is understanding that family tension, arguments, and other disruptions can push teens into dangerous situations. For many, running away from home is the first step towards mental health challenges and victimization. At The Children’s Village, we don’t want youth to feel guilty about their experiences; instead, we focus on helping them learn coping skills and to reach their goals and reclaim their lives.
“We run on a system of empowerment,” said Mr. Regis. “We want to give youth back their power and confidence. We work in a therapeutic setting. Our program allows youth to express themselves, find areas where they can be vocal, and where they can show the world who they are without harming themselves or others.”
Youth care counselors often go above and beyond to ensure youth are safe. When a young woman ran away from the program using public transportation, Mr. Regis didn’t hesitate. He boarded the next bus on the same route to follow her, ensuring she was safe until she got off. After speaking with her, he was able to persuade her to return. The staff that work with these resilient survivors are dedicated to making sure the young women in their care are safe and supported.
Throughout his fifteen years of working with youth, Mr. Regis found effective approaches to building trust and positive relationships. He starts with empathy, along with understanding that challenging behaviors typically stem from trauma, not disrespect. “The best way I can be available to them is just by letting them know I’m here to listen. It’s a judgment free zone,” he said. “I try to speak in a calm, gentle tone because some of the young women’s emotions are triggered by loud voices.”
Mr. Regis’s advice for women who are beginning their journey of recovery: “Have faith in yourself that you will get through this. Have faith that everything will be okay. Don’t be scared to ask for help and reach out to resources. Try your hardest to be brave. Work with the people who want to help you recover from trauma.”
The Children’s Village is proud to offer opportunities for recovery, healing, and hope to help young women break free from cycles of trauma and rediscover the power of their own voices.
The signs of human trafficking include aggressive and overly sexual behavior, social isolation, and a history of running away. To learn more about human trafficking prevention, especially if you know someone who may be a victim, you can visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en, call (888) 373-7888, orsu text INFO to 233733.