By Savannah Stepp, Director of NightLight Missouri.
I picked up the phone to answer a client’s call. The words spilled out of her mouth, “Are you going to be in the office today?”
I immediately starting working through a mental list of what might be wrong. But I responded simply, “Yes.”
“Can Baby P and I come for a visit?”
I took a deep breath. “Ahh! Yes, of course!” That’s a much better reason to come into the office—to show off her new baby girl who had arrived over the holidays.
Upon their arrival, the entire NightLight MO team squealed over Baby P’s tiny socks, her “momma’s chin,” and anything else a room full of adult women can “ooh” and “ahh” over. We listened to her share about the excitement (and drama!) of baby’s arrival and had the opportunity to assure her that she was doing a great job with this big change in her family’s life.
After the squeals and stories, Pearl* grew a little more serious. She began to share about how she’s been reflecting on how much has changed since she first met us nearly two years ago. She expressed her appreciation over how much we’ve done to support her in the aftermath of the horrific season that led her to our door. She expressed how different her life would be if we had not been in her life, walking alongside her through her restoration journey. She expressed such gratitude that we aren’t just case managers or a support team, but we’re like family. For a young woman who doesn’t have a lot of other supportive community in her life, that’s a big deal.
She cried. I teared up. We all hugged. It was a beautiful moment.
This month, we’re exploring some of the “why’s” and “how’s” of human trafficking. It’s hard to answer questions like these with just one (or even a few) answers. There’s no single “why” that will ever truly explain the abuses perpetrated against victims of trafficking. There’s no single “how.” But even as the answers to both of these questions remain incredibly complex, there’s value in exploring even partial answers. Just as individual components of a problem can function like gasoline on the flames, so can individual components of the solution.
At NightLight, we’ve seen the impact of intentional, strategic relationships in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. It’s one of our most significant “how’s.” NightLight’s founder and CEO, Annie Dieselberg, says: “Relationship is the key that opens the door to intervention and restoration.” Here at NightLight, we place high value on relationship as one of our core values.
We value relationship-building as key to opening doors for rescue, intervention, and restoration. We value relationships in the community to assist in bringing holistic transformation. We recognize that healing comes best in community. As an organization we cannot work in isolation, but we value strategic relationships, partnerships, and networks.
Many research studies have been conducted about resilience as a protective mechanism, particularly when adverse childhood experiences (ACE) scores are studied. A major contributing factor to resilience is the availability of quality social resources, (i.e. relationships!). This is true for both children and adults—relational support systems actually negate adversities and combat toxic stress! Whether in childhood or adulthood, supportive relationships make all the difference when it comes to trauma.
Nothing reminds me of this more than when we see a client like Pearl make the full “arc” within our program: From meeting us in a moment of crisis to (over time) walking in relationship through the process of restoration and into holistic stability and healing. This journey is not for the faint of heart, and it takes a community of people investing in just one life and one story to see it happen.
What does this journey look like? Let me paint a picture for you:
Crisis Response: It begins when we receive a call to intervene in a situation with a victim. Immediately, we triage and assess the most emergent needs in the moment. This process could require any number of community resources: medical professionals, trusted law enforcement contacts, emergency housing resources, clothing closets, domestic violence shelters, pregnancy care centers. The list could go on.
Stabilization and Assessment: Once an individual is initially stable (safe, with basic needs provided for), we can begin to look at what a post-crisis stabilization period looks like. Even more community resources may be required: counselors, job training resources, long-term housing or recovery programs, medical care for chronic issues, and more. The process involves identifying necessary supportive services to address the long-term needs of someone who has experienced complex trauma and abuse.
Ongoing Relationship and Support: Alongside the very practical assessments and supports needed for stabilization, specialized resources may be needed along the way to address “softer” issues and skills necessary to thrive. This could include help with budgeting, parenting, mental health support, spiritual/soul care, and building relational community.
How many people does it take to support just one survivor on her journey? How many hours of time are spent running around to resources, job interviews, and appointments? How much energy is expended connecting relationally to demonstrate love, build trust, understand underlying issues, and foster the type of human connection that heals? It takes an entire community of people to provide the practical support needed, emotional encouragement, and healing gift of connection. This is the kind of relationship that unlocks doors to intervention and restoration.
After 10 years of working directly with victims and survivors in this field, I have come to recognize that this arc occurs—but only in the context of relational investment. And how significant it feels to those we get to walk alongside!
Relationship is one of our most significant “how’s,” and one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against exploitation and trafficking. Relationships matter, and all of us can participate in them. As you consider your own role in pushing back the darkness of human trafficking and exploitation, I invite you to consider how you can leverage the power of relationship to be an agent of restoration and healing.
Perhaps there are vulnerable individuals already in your circle who need to know they’re seen, cared for, and supported—authentic relationship has the potential to reduce their vulnerability. Perhaps there are individuals struggling to climb out of a difficult season—authentic relationship can give them the courage to step forward. Perhaps you’ve caught the vision for how supportive relationship directly with victims of trafficking or exploitation can be powerful catalysts for freedom and transformation—look for opportunities to volunteer with or give to relationally minded organizations.
Regardless of how you engage, take heart. Life doesn’t end even after horrific trauma. Instead, it can be renewed and restored. It can flourish, grow, and dream. When we’re willing to be present, to walk together in relationship, and to extend grace and love in the midst of the mess, beautiful things happen.
Savannah Stepp has served as Director of NightLight Missouri since 2015.
