As we wrap up February, the month of love, I am reminded that many survivors of sexual exploitation face love that is conditional and harmful, filled with fear and control.
At Wellspring Living, we believe it’s essential for survivors to have a safe place to call home so they can understand the difference between nurturing love and manipulative love. We want everyone we serve to know that healthy love is built on support, respect, and freedom. Most importantly, everyone deserves relationships that honor their dignity and self-worth.
The four pillars, called HEAL, are at the core of our work at Wellspring Living. This compassionate and survivor-centered approach helps survivors move toward a future full of hope and independence. Let’s examine these four pillars:
- Healing: Recovery from trauma is not just about escaping a harmful situation—it’s about rebuilding from the inside out. Without true healing, survivors are more likely to return to unsafe circumstances. We provide trauma-informed care, mental health support, and safe spaces for recovery so that healing is possible and lasting.
- Education: Knowledge is power, and education opens doors to financial empowerment. Survivors who obtain their GED or diploma have a greater chance of achieving a living-wage job, breaking cycles of dependency and vulnerability. Our programs equip survivors with the skills they need to build sustainable, independent lives.
- Awareness: The fight against sexual exploitation requires awareness and action. We train and enable supporters across the community so that survivors have the resources they need to thrive. Every person who stands with us helps transform lives and expand opportunities for those at risk.
- Lodging: A stable foundation is essential for recovery. Without safe housing, healing cannot happen. That’s why we are expanding our campus to provide long-term residential programs for children and six tiny homes for women and children. These spaces offer a pathway to independence, stability, and family reunification.
Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 93%, or $23.5 million, for our Welcome Home Campaign (wellspringliving.org/welcomehome), an initiative to expand our campus and create Georgia’s first long-term residential program for children who have been sexually exploited. This expansion will also provide tiny homes for women and children and bring our administration and training faculty together on campus to serve survivors more effectively.
Your support makes this possible. Every donation, partnership, and act of awareness helps us create a place of safety, healing, and transformation. We invite you to stand with us, give generously, and help us build a future where survivors are not just rescued but restored.
Together, we are creating a world where love heals.
With gratitude,
Christian Murphy
CEO, Wellspring Living
