Our next Human Trafficking Advocate certified training will be held in February 2022, starting February 1^st. Please watch our Facebook page for more details on how to sign up or contact our Outreach Coordinator Bernadette Valdez at bernadette@familyassist.org.

This month we are hearing from Myeesha Arranaga, one of our HT Advocates. Myeesha has been working at Open Door for the past 2 years. She is dedicated and passionate about what she does. When asked why Myeesha works at Open Door, she responded,

“Doing this work, you understand very quickly that you are going up against the tide. Many don’t realize the work that we do can be some of the most difficult, heart-wrenching frustrating work possible. Working with marginalized and underserved populations, a population that has heavy intersectionality of years or even decades of unaddressed childhood/adult trauma, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, social & family services, coupled with the stigmas and criminalization that comes from being trafficked. Having to prove that you were trafficked and prove to other agencies that these survivors are “worthy” of services. The majority of the time when we’re working with survivors they don’t believe that they were trafficked or victimized because they are used to every outside source judging them and telling them that this is what they choose or they ran and left their trafficker too late and because of that they’re not eligible for services and or not believed to be a victim. Many times, because of how they are presented they are not seen as victims who deserve empathy or victims who have experienced trauma and hardships but criminals or hyper-sexual individuals. Can you imagine the frustrations to prove that you were a victim even when your head hasn’t reconciled the fact that you were vulnerable at some point and this thing that they are feeling isn’t love but a trauma bond. That at some point because of those vulnerabilities you were sought after, hunted down, conditioned, and then eventually found yourself caught up deeper than you imagined. Only to be told that this is what they wanted all along! They need to be validated, to be seen, heard and believed. Many times, as an Advocate of the Open Door or as an ambassador of Family Assistance Program we hear “Oh you’re with that program?” “You take everyone!”. Or “You guys are too nice or too lenient”. “Too soft too understanding,”. I choose to believe that Open Door is a soft and safe place to land when they are ready. Someone to believe them, encourage them, support them, empower them, help them reach new heights, ground them and open their eyes to new things! Just like we would hope someone would do or could have done for us. Is it hard? At times, absolutely. But it’s worth it and our participants are worthy of the effort. Even if it is for a brief moment while we are in contact with them. Hopefully, at some point, there has been a seed planted along the way and they can look back days, months, or years later and see that those little seeds produced a tree far greater and maybe just maybe bear fruit to help those who come after us.” – Myeesha Arranaga