A Life Safe From Child Sex Trafficking

DL spent her formative years living on the streets and spending time in and out of juvenile hall. She and her sister were on their own and had to fend for themselves. That meant making money, in her own words, by “doing bad stuff” to survive. She was 11. Her wake up call came when she got shot.

DL is just one of more than an astounding 325,000 children who are commercially sexually exploited in the United States every year. But there are just 511 beds in the entire country available for residential programs to effectively treat sex trafficked girls, which is the fastest growing criminal industry in California. Olive Crest acquired the Hope Refuge Campus in 2022 in response to that massive shortage, specifically to support and provide therapeutic live-in care for girls aged 12 to 18 who have been victims in California.

The 214-acre ranch-style facility in the hills of Santa Barbara – filled with oak woodlands, rolling hills, and stunning ocean views – runs a California-licensed intensive program for a six-month minimum, providing resources for up to 32 girls a year to heal and forge a path for a new life. Each girl at the center receives individualized counseling, mental health support, on-site education, and skills in independent living and relationship building.

“At first they want to run, which is all they know,” says Sally Cook, the organization’s development and community engagement director. “But,” she adds, “that’s not easy from a remote facility like ours. Eventually they bond with staff and each other, embrace the program, and develop the healthy relationships they’ve been missing.”

Early Intervention Changes Life Trajectories

The proof is in the numbers: Last year, 100% of residents enrolled in full-time education (they have an on-site school), 75% of eligible residents graduated from high school, and 90% of residents showed significant measurable improvement in mental health, academics, social skills, and overall well-being – all while feeling safe from exploitation.

The Hope Refuge Campus is a life changer. Without treatment, the girls often either act out or internalize the trauma, landing in a juvenile hall or a psych ward – unable to get the intense, individualized help and support they need. But the Hope Refuge Campus provides them with comprehensive early intervention that changes their trajectory for a successful adulthood.

That’s what happened for DL. “Everybody was welcoming,” she says. “They see you for you. They don’t judge.” While at the Hope Refuge Campus, DL’s life was radically changed. She received the counseling she needed to heal from her trauma and she graduated from high school and now attends college and works part time. What DL also learned at the Hope Refuge Campus is that for young women struggling in DL’s previous “lifestyle,” there are “people out here who want to help you.”