A new intervention program by a Newmarket-based organization to help youth who have faced sex trafficking and sexual exploitation works in tandem with the current prevention program to prevent them from falling through the cracks.
BridgeNorth, a survivor-led organization committed to ending sexual exploitation in Canada, recently launched the LifeEdge program to provide trauma-informed services and support to teenagers aged 12 to 17 who have been sexually exploited and/or sex trafficked.
According to the organization, which offers direct services, public education, and advocacy, the goal of this new day program is "to help them heal, reduce the risk of re-exploitation, rebuild their lives, and thrive."
The program, which runs thrice a week in person, is designed to offer early intervention in crisis and help the youth stabilize, transition and reintegrate.
On the other hand, its SAVVY Program, which runs over 10 weeks, equips female-identifying non-binary and non-gender conforming youth aged 12 to 18 "with the knowledge and tools to keep themselves and their friends safe from sexual exploitation and sex trafficking." This prevention program has run for eight months now.
If a parent, teacher, caregiver or social worker notices someone suddenly spending a lot of time online or exhibiting changes in friend groups or other concerning behaviours, they can refer a youth to the SAVVY program.
"Sometimes we realize that the person referred is being trafficked already. Now, we can further refer them into the LifeEdge program if they choose to, so that they don't have to bounce from one agency to another for services," BridgeNorth's founder and executive director Casandra Diamond explained.
Explaining why the prevention-based program sometimes gets youth that are already trafficked, Diamond added that many people don't know how to spot the signs of youth transitioning in or at risk because they're different from somebody who's entrenched.
"If somebody's transitioning in... they don't fully understand the whole culture and exhibit very different warning signs."
With that being said, she also shared how the program is used to create awareness of a situation in which the youths themselves or a friend could be. "Because often times, trafficking is so deceitful and sinister, and we get a lot of disclosures at that stage."
"So by providing the prevention-based program, first, we've reduced trauma so people are not having to retell their story and then they're assessed at the highest standard by registered professionals and the multi-disciplinary team of people with lived experiences," she added.
Both the direct services are designed to be barrier-free and offer honorariums to the youth for their participation, snacks and transportation to and from if necessary.
The LifeEdge program is conceived around "a strengths-based, relationship-based philosophy of care and a belief in the resilience of youth."
It includes one-on-one support as well as group support and accepts referrals throughout the year.
"If you suspect, just don't hesitate to call or even if you wonder, just call because we'll be able to assess the situation," Diamond added.
Amrita Roy Chowdhury Majumdar is a member of the New Canadian Media Collective. She is a journalist and content writer with nearly a decade of experience working in three countries. Now working in the GTA, she continues to follow her passion by reporting on human rights violations, education, crimes, inequality and community engagement. Village Media is a partner of NCM, a member-based non-profit that showcases immigrant journalism and amplifies the work of journalists of various immigrant/ethnic backgrounds.
