Amy was identified by law enforcement as a teen victim of child sexual abuse and, upon further investigation, being trafficked.
At the police department, she was nervous, scared and felt completely alone. Her life at home was always chaotic. She lived with many different relatives because one parent is incarcerated and the other has struggled with severe drug addiction and never been part of her life.
Amy didn’t know what to expect when the detectives told her they were going to introduce her to a Crisis Aid advocate. She was surprised when officers walked her down the halls of the police department to a warm room with a comfortable sofa, soft cushions and even a blanket for her.
As she sat with her victim advocate, she was able to share some of her fears about her health and safety, and they discussed some of her options. The more Amy sat and talked in that supportive environment, the safer she began to feel, and she began to relax. Her shivering and tears lessened, and her voice steadied as she slowly found the strength to tell some of her story to law enforcement.
Since then, Amy has continued to stay connected with her Crisis Aid advocate for mentoring and help finding community resources, such as therapy and tutoring. She meets with her advocate to discuss healthy relationships and boundaries and for emotional support.
Amy also has the chance to discuss any ongoing safety concerns she may have with law enforcement when she sees her advocate. She says she is no longer apprehensive about entering the police station, but now sees it as a place of haven and help.
* The image(s) used in this blog post are stock photo(s) and are used for illustrative purposes only. They do not depict real individuals associated with Crisis Aid International.
