Vicky Proffit, the executive director of Sarahís Home, said besides age criteria, admission to the home requires proof of trafficking, some sort of insurance (Medicaid is acceptable), and parents or guardians must be willing to participate in classes and counseling.Each girl is assessed based on her individual needs, which includes developing a curriculum specific to education goals. Proffit said many of the girls are way behind in school. Sarahís home has its own accredited private school called Aspire.The girls need to be taught life and job skills and appropriate social and sexual behavior. The home offers intensive counseling, equine therapy spiritual guidance and field trips. The girls also volunteer monthly at a hydroponics garden, and they also have their own garden on the property. The girls are responsible for planting, caring for the plants and harvesting them, Proffit said.Family counseling is vital for a successful return home. Proffit said parents or guardians need to be aware of what the home is teaching their children, so the household is in sync with healthy behaviors and habits.Often, the home life the girls come from is dysfunctional, and the parents may have even encouraged the girl to get into trafficking, Proffit said. ìSome parents assisted their daughters into trafficking; some are mortified, but all are wounded,î she said. Parents who assist their daughters into trafficking usually do so for financial reasons, whether itís to pay for living expenses or buy alcohol and drugs.Sarahís Home also provides medical services such as visits to an ophthalmologist and a dentist who provide free services.The monthly rate for the home is determined according to the familyís income but is never more than $700, Proffit said.Besides staff, there are three levels of vetted volunteers that provide support to the home and the girls ó from maintenance to mentoring.They sponsor three galas a year as fundraisers, Proffit said.And they accept sponsorships for the girls, and are always in need of household and personal items like laundry detergent and soaps. ìWe welcome gift cards for eating out, going bowling, to a movie, to a play or opera; going to The Nutcracker at Christmas time or anything that a normal girl their age would be doing and going to,î she said.ìThe community has been very supportive of Sarahís Home and the girls and is supported by everyone, which is wonderful. Itís a community effort.î For more information about Sarahís Home, visit http://Sarahshome.us, see them on Facebook or call 719-347-3026.
