Sarah and Caroline: Stories of Independence from Olive Crest
Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash
In many cases, youth have limited resources when aging out of foster care, often no secure housing placement or substantial support. Olive Crest, a member of the Dressember Network, has established a program called Operation Independence through the founders of Dr. Donald and Mrs. Lois Verluer. Sarah and Caroline are two young women that have been a part of this program.
If you met Sarah, a 19-year-old human trafficking survivor, and mother, you would agree that she is a dynamic woman. But, you wouldn't immediately know her story. Similar to many youths transitioning out of foster care, Sarah experienced a lack of emotional care and very little family support in her transition to an independent lifestyle.
Sarah joined Olive Crest’s Operation Independence program in search of a comforting transition from foster care to motherhood. Being placed in a Redlands apartment with another pregnant young woman, uncomfortableness settled in Sarah’s mind and provoked irrational behaviors. No privacy or sense of independence, especially from scheduled visits, likely fueled confrontations with her case manager, interns and the program director. At this rate, Sarah was willing to leave the program.
In the long run, Sarah found that Olive Crest was the most trustworthy resource for herself and her newborn. She eventually found herself with a fully furnished apartment, an on-call advisor and a support system that would support her as she developed soft skills and recognized potential areas of growth. Perhaps, she was not alone afterall, and she had a tremendous support system within her reach. Olive Crest was a space for Sarah to have freedom in her transition, providing her with programs to achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency through the Independent Living Skills workshop.
Could a successful transition to adulthood from a troubling past be attainable? Yes, through diligent effort and perseverance despite a traumatic past, Sarah could and did attain a life that came with an abundance of support and a precious baby boy!
One evening, while attending the Independent Living Skills workshop, Sarah expressed what many would suppress, “I don’t know why I am so angry! I don't want my kid to grow up like me. I want my kid to have more. I want to be a good mom.” Moving forward from that instance in Sarah's journey through self-awareness and humbleness, Sarah has sought to form a relationship with God and learn more about the Bible. After self-reflecting, Sarah expressed her gratefulness to her team, especially for the Thanksgiving dinner and welcoming presents for her newborn son. Now, Sarah feels like a superwoman after delivering her son, wanting to attend the Independent Living Skill classes more often to take care of her newborn, obtain a job and create a pleasant lifestyle.
Caroline is survivor of human trafficking and another member of Olive Crest’s Operation Independence program. After being referred to the program through the Department of Children and Family Services, there seemed to be a beacon of light amidst a dark path for Caroline. With Olive Crest’s support, Caroline has had space to reflect on how phenomenal and steadfast she truly is. A program tailored to Caroline’s transition to adulthood from foster care and mental health counseling, allowed her to have a supportive environment and confidence in her journey. At one point, Caroline had difficulty conversing and having connections with men. However, through Olive Crest’s programming, she has established professional relationships with male staff members that have played an instrumental role in her overall development. Caroline believed in Olive Crest’s work, and because of her faith, small and practical steps helped Caroline unlock many doors.
Today, Caroline has transitioned from Operation Independence into a Supported Independent Living Plan program. Through this process, Caroline has begun to enhance her skills to achieve an independent and healthy lifestyle.
Out of the 3,060 youth in Olive Crest's programs, approximately 520 youth were impacted by human trafficking in 2020. Although Olive Crest anticipates the number of human trafficking survivors to increase, personnel training will not be a concern. Specifically, 80% of personnel are trained in the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), and 97% of personnel are trained in trauma-informed care. Year-round, Olive Crest offers conferences and training that will allow personnel to specialize in trauma, substance abuse, anti-trafficking efforts and strategies to empower human trafficking survivors.
Stories like Sarah’s and Caroline’s help us understand the importance of effective advocacy. In honor of National Foster Care Month, continue to learn more about foster care and it’s intersectionality with human trafficking.
** Names in these stories have been changed in order to protect individuals.
About the Author
Porsche Smith is a biracial young woman who is a rising college freshman based in North Carolina. Her mission is to couple community involvement and psychology to impact the youth internationally. She believes the socioeconomic status of an individual should not limit their ability to receive adequate resources. When Porsche isn't challenging global systems today, she enjoys diving into self-care by engaging in Bible studies, appreciating nature’s beauty and coffee dates with friends.