Placement: Angela's House
In 1999, through the passion, hard work and collaboration of several women leaders, including key members of the Juvenile Justice Fund, Fulton County Juvenile Court and The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Angela’s House came into existence. These community stakeholders set out to raise awareness of the problem of child commercial sexual exploitation in Atlanta, which had not been publicly addressed up to that point, to change legislation to reflect the criminality of the pimping of children and raise funds to secure a facility that would provide safe, stable housing and appropriate treatment for girls on the street who had been victims of commercial sexual exploitation. They were successful in their public awareness campaign and soon a law was passed making the pandering of children a felony. Shortly after, in answers to their prayers, a generous woman donated Angela’s House. In 2002, JJF adopted Angela’s House as one of its pilot programs.
JJF established Angela’s House as the first safe house in the Southeast for girls, ages 11-17, that have been subjected to sexual exploitation. Located safely and securely away from predators, Angela’s House becomes the full-time residence of up to six girls at a time. In a nurturing, family-like environment, the girls receive several months of professional treatment for their physical and psychological wounds, enabling them to resume normal lives as children and teens.
Since its original inception as an emergency shelter, Angela’s House continues to expand beyond expectations. In 2004, JJF entered an agreement with Inner Harbour, a local, licensed nonprofit and reputable therapeutic provider, to operate Angela’s House as a group home under the management of JJF and provide expanded services, including experiential and outdoor therapy and recreation. Program activities are gender-specific and led by staff that have been trained by CEASE to specifically deal with issues surrounding CSEC. In addition to receiving individual, group and family counseling, the girls now participate in structured activities such as yoga, equine therapy (horsemanship), Journalism Workshops in collaboration with VOX, leadership activities in collaboration with GOAL (Girls Opportunities for Adventure and Leadership), Literary Group, West African drumming, and training through Cirque du Monde. The girls also receive accredited schooling which enables them to resume classes at grade level upon discharge.
Angela’s House serves approximately 18 girls annually. More than 90 girls have been served by the program since 2002.
