What is Created Care?

Our Created Care program is one of many ways our team is working to combat sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Gainesville area. In this program, survivors have the opportunity to heal, develop their passions and skills, and build a healthy, sustainable future. Our mission is two-fold: reaching and restoring lives impacted by sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. We do more than just reaching women in vulnerable places -- we provide them with a practical, sustainable way out of their exploitation.

We often are asked how Created Care works and how the community can support it. This post is designed to answer some of those questions and provide clarity and opportunities for those who are looking for ways to be involved with our ministry.

Created Care is broken up into four phases: 

1. Stabilization
2. Rehabilitation
3. Development
4. Empowerment

Each of these phases is a step toward healthy, independent living for the survivors who enter the program. The phases build on each other and can be completed from anywhere between 12-18 months. We know that every woman’s story is different, which means that each woman will have different needs that need to be met. Created Care is designed to be individualized and holistic care.

 PHASE 1: STABILIZATION
The Stabilization phase is an intensive care period during which survivors receive immediate care for the needs they have coming out of “the life.” This includes all intake services such as detox treatments, medication, and mental health evaluation. We also provide the women with basic hygiene and clothing items if needed. Our goal within this phase is for each woman we serve to reach a steady and secure place in her own life to where she can truly work on her healing in the following phases.

Here are a few needs we have for women in the Stabilization phase:

• Donations of basic necessities (hygiene products)
• Medical professionals willing to see participants for a reduced cost
• Financial sponsors for various intake services, including detox programs

PHASE 2: REHABILITATION
The Rehabilitation phase opens up the opportunity for Created Care participants to receive quality services and also develop their job and life skills. Here, our focus shifts from creating a stable environment for women to connecting women to the individual services they need to heal. For some women, this could mean intensive psychiatry treatment, and for others it could be biweekly counseling appointments. Other services include sobriety care, finding safe housing, and medical/dental care. During this phase, women are also doing goal-setting activities, identifying the healthy and unhealthy relationships in their lives, and attending biweekly meetings with a Created mentor.  

We want to ensure that women are cared for physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally in every phase, but this especially comes to play in this portion of Created Care. The women we serve are laying their foundations in the Rehabilitation phase, and we want to walk that journey with her by supporting her in the practical ways we can. 

Here are a few needs we have for women in the Rehabilitation phase:

• Mentors for each Created Care participant
• Financial sponsors for various medical services
• Medical and mental health professional partnerships
• Apartment owners willing to waive background checks for participants

PHASE 3: DEVELOPMENT
The Development phase is when women are really able to take major strides toward reaching their personal goals. In this phase, we work on legal advocacy (such as the expungement of criminal records related to being exploited), and we focus on obtaining employment and/or taking classes to obtain a degree. We begin by hosting workshops teaching important life skills such as interviewing, writing a resumé, budgeting, and time management. Employment provides women with the dignity of being able to earn a living and save for their goals, and we encourage women to develop healthy hobbies and enjoyable activities to maintain a well-balanced life. 

Here are a few needs we have for women in the Development phase:

• Business partners willing to employ participants
• Mentors for each Created Care participant
• Educational scholarships (tuition, textbooks, etc)
• Workshop leaders
• Financial sponsors for expungement filings

PHASE 4: EMPOWERMENT
The Empowerment phase primarily focuses on the transition to independence apart from our services. During this phase, we work on developing healthy relationships with a church, small group, or interest club, taking ownership and responsibility for resources and housing, and connecting to resources for maintenance of the skills women have developed throughout the program. We ensure that graduates are able to continue their care with counselors and medical providers after graduation by obtaining insurance and working these types of expenses into their budget. Upon graduation from Created Care, women are celebrated and supported in their transition to independence. Graduates are always welcome to continue attending our weekly fellowship time if they wish, and they may return to the program as mentors, volunteers, or potentially staff members. 

Here are a few needs we have for women in the Empowerment phase:

• Workshop leaders
• ​Mentors for each Created Care participant
• Business partners willing to employ participants​

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If you feel called to financially support the work we’re doing with women in Created Care, sponsor one of these services or become a mentor for a woman in Created Care, please reach out to us at contactus@createdgainesville.com. We as a community all have a part in reaching and restoring lives impacted by sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

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