Survivor Empowerment
Embrace. Equip. Empower.
At My Life My Choice, survivors reclaim their power. Our one-on-one, research-based Survivor Empowerment Model is the heartbeat of everything we do, and the gold standard for providers and programs interesting in replicating our successful, field-tested model. Led and guided by survivors, our mentees build the intangible skills they need to be successful, healthy adults. These include self-worth, a positive self-image, the ability to trust, and the tools to know how and where to seek help when they need it. Survivor mentors and mentees have a powerful relationship that enables youth to build their futures, find their voices and become leaders in the fight to end commercial sexual exploitation.
If you suspect that a young person is being commercially sexually exploited, you can get help, or make a referral to our Survivor Mentor program (.docx).
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Leadership Development
Our Leadership Corps program gives young survivors, often overlooked, the opportunity to find and use their voice. This strength-based initiative provides the opportunity for youth to participate in leadership and advocacy roles within the organization and the community at large in the fight to end exploitation.
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Case Management
We focus on a model of “recovery” rather than “rescue”, with an eye toward the long-term health and well-being of our youth. Mentees count on our in-depth, trauma-informed and personalized support to help them manage educational and career planning, life-skills, health and wellness, and substance abuse.
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Community Building
A sense of belonging is especially critical for exploited and marginalized youth. Mentees become part of the My Life My Choice family and have access to a number of events and programs throughout the year to build strong relationships and a sense of community among our mentees and staff.
Being with My Life My Choice, it made me realize that this is still my body. No matter what this is still my body, and no matter what, I get to take control of it back. Now it’s my body, my boundaries, and I thought it was gonna be impossible to be accepting of what happened in the past, but I’m here doing it every day, day by day, slowly.
O, Age 15