At the beginning of the year, we introduced you to Rose, our Restore Intern. She is a senior at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, preparing for ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and she came to us carrying a deep, personal conviction that the Church has too often failed survivors of sexual trauma, and that it doesn't have to be this way. As part of the practical skills portion of her degree program, she joined us to deepe

Skylar* did not know she was a victim of human trafficking. At age 25, Skylar* was working a job, trying to provide for her children, and waiting for her boyfriend to be released from prison. She went to work in the morning, folded the laundry, and hung out with her friends. In addition, she had experienced years of sexual exploitation, not knowing that various individuals she considered friends were actually traffickers. This was just her life. Everything changed when law

Our tiny team just got bigger (and mightier)! We are so excited to introduce you to our newest Case Manager, Candiss Gray, who officially joined our team last month and has already brought creativity, wisdom, and joy to both our office and the clients she serves. Originally from Michigan, she graduated from Baker College with a degree in Criminal Justice before making Texas her home. She has lived in Austin for the past 14 years and brings more than a decade of experience in

“Is there anything you need right now?” “Would you like a snack? Some water? A blanket?” “I know this isn’t what you expected.” These are just a few of the words spoken by one of our staff members last month as they engaged with a potential victim of human trafficking. She had just been intercepted by law enforcement during a multi-agency human trafficking operation, where the goal is to identify potential victims, offer them resources and support, and hold traffickers acc

The soft scent of lavender from a nearby diffuser drifts through a brightly lit bedroom as staff members work, changing lightbulbs, mopping the floors, folding freshly washed towels, and making the bed with new sheets. Just down the hall, the lingering smell of fresh paint hangs in the air from the communal bathroom being prepared for use. Soon, a new client will move into this room. While her move in may officially mark day one of her time at Red Oak Hope, this moment has be

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and before the month is over, we wanted to talk about the connection between sexual assault and human trafficking, as well as highlight the importance of integrating sexual assault resources into survivor care. Sexual violence is a broad umbrella that encompasses both assault and sex trafficking. The physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of sexual assault and sex trafficking are similar, and so are the resources that victims n

For many, the justice system feels steady and available whenever needed. There is an expectation that justice WILL be served. It may be a system that operates at a distance, but it’s bedrock. However, for many survivors, “The systems that were supposed to protect victims during trafficking — including the criminal justice and legal systems — failed. Survivors broke free from trafficking through what amounted to sheer force of will.” ( Polaris ) We’ve experienced this time and

There has been so much said in the public square about the Epstein Files, Jeffrey Epstein, and the scandal that has captured the attention of our nation and world over the last several years, and months in particular. The more I have thought about the work we do here at Red Oak Hope, the stranger it felt not to support our community by bringing this conversation back to the personal, the local, and most importantly, the deeply human aspects of these stories that have been lai

Hi friend, Last week, our social worker, Emily, sat beside a client in a doctor's office during the client's first appointment in years. This client experienced significant anxiety leading up to the appointment and nearly cancelled the day it was scheduled out of fear. However, having support from both case management and Restore allowed her nervous system to be regulated enough to both show up for the appointment and express her needs accurately to the doctor. What might see

Hi friend, January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, but trafficking is not just a national issue. It is happening every day in our own community. For the last 15 years, January has been set aside to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public on how to identify and prevent this crime. While the exploitation of people for sex and labor has existed throughout human history, it has only been in recent decades that governments, organizations,