The following is an update from our local refuge home for adolescent survivors, Hope Refuge:
Dear friends and family, Nearly 10 years ago, we embarked on a very special calling to protect and care for local victims of sex trafficking. Since that time, we have lovingly built Hope Refuge into one of the largest facilities licensed to provide short-term residential therapeutic programs for girls who have been sexually exploited. At Hope Refuge, girls ages 12-17 from right here in the USA have received restoration and healing, while learning to find hope in the future. We are so grateful to you for sharing in our vision and helping Hope Refuge become a dream come true—for us and the girls that we serve. Today, we have a big announcement: To help ensure the continued growth and sustainability of Hope Refuge, we are excited to share that Olive Crest will soon oversee all operations of the center. Based in Santa Ana, CA, and with locations throughout Southern California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest, Olive Crest has been a leader in the prevention and treatment of child abuse since 1973. The alignment of both organizations’ missions makes this a perfect fit and will help advance our common goal of eradicating child abuse, including the trafficking of minors. This transition is projected to be finalized as early as March 7, 2022. At that time, Hope Refuge will operate as a program of Olive Crest. Olive Crest intends to increase its presence in Santa Barbara County through the establishment of a local board of trustees and, ultimately, offices that provide programs such as foster family, adoption, and family preservation services. Programs at Hope Refuge will continue without interruption. In fact, we have already benefited from Olive Crest staff coming on site to help enhance our current operations. And we’re pleased to report that we will remain on staff—serving in fund development and community involvement roles that allow us to keep sharing our passion for Hope Refuge and victims of sex trafficking. Your generous contributions to Hope Refuge have been deeply appreciated, and we want to assure you that although Olive Crest will begin to oversee the processing of gifts, any future donations you may choose to give will continue to support our girls at the center. We will share more as additional details are confirmed. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Sincerely, Chuck and Sally Cook Co-Founders
Website: http://hoperefuge.org/ Email: info@hoperefuge.org Phone: (805) 699-6097
