b'Dr. Jeanne L. Allert is founder and executive director of the Institute for Survivor Care. For 13 years she operated a residential program for female minors and adults of sex trafficking. Today she serves as senior research psychologist, speaker, and educator on sex trafficking victimology and Christcentered recovery.Being prompted to exit happens most often in that fragile moment when threat meets opportunity. fragile moment when threat meets opportunity. Citygate Network members to be familiar with It also suggests that services need to be accessiblethe Institute for Survivor Cares national landscape and responsive during those moments. Othermap of services for the sexually exploited responses included: I was seriously considering(www.instituteforsurvivorcare.org/shelter-map) [or attempted] suicide (41.8 percent); I had aand build relationships with trafficking shelters, spiritual experience (27.6 percent); and I witness- both in the immediate area and beyond. ed something bad, and it shook me (26.9 percent).Beyond the facilitation of access to services, these survivors reported the importance of How you can help survivors succeedhaving an encouraging word from someone. C itygate Network members are in an opti- One-fifth of the respondents reported that there mal position to help reduce recidivismwas no one during their tenure in exploitation and encourage permanent exit. Whenwho spoke encouragement to them. The major-asked what these survivors most needed in thatity, however, could point to someone who was fragile moment of decision, they reported:instrumental in offering a word of hope. These people came from a diverse array of roles: victim Needs at Decision Momentadvocates or counselors, family or friends, reli-gious figures, survivor peers, outreach workers, 72.5% police officers, and social workers. Even a single A safe place to stay for a few nights. voice of encouragement, regardless of the source, 66.7% can serve as a bridge from exploitation toward Relational supports (someone to talk to,hope, agency, and sustained freedom.prayer, encouragement to exit).Guidance from one survivor may apply to all 56.7% of us: The most helpful support for me was the Transportation out of their currentunwavering support of those around me who did location.not encourage my behavior and mental health 52.4% issues, but stood by me to say, If youre committed Detox/sobriety support.then I am committed, and we will find a solution. The Institute for Survivor Care invites Citygate Network members to download the full study It is also important to note that 38 percent(www.instituteforsurvivorcare.org/exiting). We of respondents said their first action in seekingmust work in partnership to help identify victims help was to identify a residential care programin these fragile moments of decision to have the they could attend, preferably outside their area.relational, spiritual, and service support needed This suggests that it would be advantageous forto effect permanent exit. \x0324 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025'