Every Heart has a Story to Tell! This is the theme of this years Bridging The Gap Conference, newly named the 2015 Thrive Conference. The Conference will bring together women from all over the state at the Rivers Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, on October 9th & 10th. It is a Christian women's conference offering opportunity to learn, grow, worship, fellowship and understand the significance of each of our stories in God's heart and plans.
I m excited to say that Heartland Girls' Ranch and our work through our Hearts For Freedom project has been chosen to be featured on Saturday of the conference! I will be interviewed by Susie Larson, radio host, author and national speaker to discuss the very important topic of the trafficking of our Minnesota youth. I believe it is very important to raise awareness about the sex trafficking of our youth and help communities understand that sex trafficking/sexual exploitation is not just a big city problem, that it is happening in our own backyards in small towns & rural communities. Everyday there are children (and adults) being sold as slaves for others pleasure. Heartland Girls Ranch is on the front lines working to solve this national epidemic though our Hearts for Freedom project.
The Hearts for Freedom Project is a three-pronged approach to increasing programs and services for sexually exploited youth. The first prong being our Hearts for Freedom house which provides long-term group home services for girls ages 12-17 years old. Two, is our Hearts for Freedom Project Resource Guide which is a comprehensive resource guide for service providers and stake holders. The guide gives an overview of sex trafficking in Minnesota and our states response, the Safe Harbor No Wrong Door Model. It also outlines Heartland's program model based on best-practices in serving sexually exploited youth in a healthy, trauma-informed and culturally specific manner. Third, is our Hearts for Freedom Network, a system of coordinated care for sexually exploited youth in the West Central MN region. This includes an accompanying website that provides resources and services for those addressing sex trafficking in the region.
At Heartland Girls' Ranch in our Hearts for Freedom house our mission is to help girls heal from the trauma of sexual exploitation and give them an opportunity to write a new story for themselves.
Please join us us at the Thrive Conference to celebrate our accomplishments and to learn and grow as we work together to end the sex trafficking of our youth!
You can find out more information on the Thrive conference at mnbtg.org. You can also visit heartsforfreedom.org to learn more about child trafficking and whats being done in west central MN.
CeCe Terlouw