Child Protection United States Project #17205

Set kids free from trauma of sexual/physical abuse

by Innovative Alternatives, Inc.

Project Report | Oct 1, 2014
Report to our donors on 'Set Kids Free from Abuse!'

By Sharon Bayus, MA, LPC-S | President & CEO

Dear Friends,

I am happy to report that Innovative Alternative, Inc. is celebrating 25 years of service! Once again, I'd like to share a client letter with you since you share in our work! This one is from the Foster Mom (soon to be adoptive Mom) of three children who were helped through Innovative Alternatives, Inc.'s Victim Assistance Program, but one of the girls in particular suffered a great deal and stepped up to save a younger sister from the same future:

My oldest foster-daughter's therapist recently testified in the trial of the sex offender who began molesting my daughter as soon as he married her mother. This child’s own mother did not believe her and stayed with this man—rejecting all 3 of her children. It is hard for most people to imagine the pain that some children endure.

The counselor first testified in the Family Court case which removed parental rights from her mother for failure to protect her, then a few months later, this counselor testified in the criminal trial. I understand that the grant IA receives does not pay for the time these caring therapists spend preparing and testifying in court. We could not afford to have paid them either, but this program makes it possible for them to support the cases of these kids. I am pleased to report a ‘guilty’ verdict on two counts!

My foster daughter realized her sister was approaching the age at which her step-father began molesting her and the pressure of this concern led her to tell, not an adult at first, but a friend--a good friend--the best kind. This child prayed for help and she got it—a friend who told what she was afraid to tell, a school counselor faithful to report, a caring police officer, foster parents willing to accept not only her, but her siblings as well, a dedicated prosecutor, a faithful youth pastor and an awesome psychotherapist--to work with her, pray with her, care for and encourage her as well as to walk by her side through painful court trials and recovery.

Even now, there are other children in the same situation she was in then. As the horror of what was done to them is brought into the light as it was for my child, the awesome counselors of Innovative Alternatives, Inc. need to be able to serve them during their most frightening times--the telling of their secrets! I know it takes many donors to make their services possible, and we just want to say thank you! It means a lot, it means a life--a new life for the 3 children we have now decided to adopt! May God bless all who give to the future of these children and hundreds, thousands of others each year!

Lori (Last name withheld)

There is nothing I can add to this letter! I echo Lori's sentiments! All the work we do at IA is because of people like you! You share in every blessing with your one-time or continued gifts--each is a special gift to a child and provides hope for their futures!

If you would like to support our 25th anniversary with a special gift, you can give through the GlobalGiving website and we will advertise your business on our event website and at the celebration event! IA also accepts donation of items for auction. Please feel free to write me with any questions or comments!

With Sincerest Thanks!

Sharon

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Jun 30, 2014
You made it happen for our kids! We met the challenge together!

By Sharon Bayus | President & CEO

Great news! Thanks to each of you, Innovative Alternatives, Inc. has met 20% of the total goal for our first project as well as 100% of the local challenge which makes us a partner of Global Giving! Our projects will go live around the world on July 1, 2014! We will not only have the ability to fund this project for the remainder of the match needed on the fiscal year 2013-14 Victim Assistance Program grant, but for every year hereafter to ensure that abused children have the assistance they need to heal from sexual and physical abuse and subsequently succeed in life!

Normally, IA has the honor of working with these couragious children only after their abuse has occurred, but recently, we had the priviledge of actually preventing a kidnapping that would have led an 18 year-old girl straight the bondage of a human trafficking ring! Here is her Mother's letter to our agency and now, you have become a part of this important work!

To Whom It May Concern,

I have been a client with Innovative Alternatives for about a year now. I was going there for help concerning a medical malpractice issue I am involved in.

A few weeks ago, I had another issue surface concerning my 18 year old daughter. Our family went on a spring break trip to Southern California. My daughter was targeted by a human trafficking ring on the plane ride to Los Angeles. They began the luring process while we were in California. She even vanished at one point on the trip, right off Hollywood Blvd.! Later, investigators theorize she was lured away and drugged. We are still not sure how she escaped, she is still unwilling to talk about it.

It wasn't until we returned back home to Texas that I discovered that she was a potential victim of human trafficking. The human traffickers had put a young "French model" on the job of luring her. I spent countless hours researching and investigating on my own to try to compile enough evidence to present to my daughter. I needed to show her that the French guy was not who he said he was. I made several calls to human trafficking hotlines and human trafficking nonprofit groups. None offered any real support. Law enforcement wasn't much help at that point either. The FBI even told me it just sounded as if I didn’t approve of my daughter’s new boyfriend!

I went to my regular counseling session at Innovative Alternatives and relayed my current dilemma concerning my daughter to my counselor, Sharon Bayus. She and the office staff sprang into action immediately and offered more help and support than I had received from the countless 'help lines' I had contacted in the days prior. Within a couple of hours they were able to help me gain a few compelling pieces of information against the human trafficking group. We then planned an intervention for the following evening per their suggestion.

Sharon Bayus from came to a friend's house and led the intervention with my daughter, our family and her friends. Overall, it was very successful. Together, we were able to convince my daughter she was in danger and saved her from becoming a victim.

I do not know that my daughter would still be with us today had Innovative Alternatives not stepped up and helped. I am so grateful for everyone who helped. These people truly have a passion to make a difference and change lives. When my daughter gets ready to talk about what happened to her, IA also has a ‘Victim Assistance Counseling Program’ that will provide free services to her to help her heal emotionally from whatever she has been through, but at least it is not the nightmare it could have become for all of us!

Always Grateful,

Christina (Last name withheld for confidentiality)

Thank you so much for supporting our work and making it possible for Christina to keep her daughter away from certain emotional, mental and spiritual destruction, as well as sexual slavery. You have also made this partnership with Global Giving possible for our agency with your faith and financial investment in Innovative Alternatives, Inc.

Don't forget, you can continue to make a difference by sharing our project with your own networks of family, friends and colleagues. If you have ever thought of becoming a volunteer, this is your chance to help us meet the rest of our match for this year, and if possible, get a jump on the $60,000 match for next year, in order to keep the $240,000 worth of Victim of Crime Act funding coming into IA from the Governor's Office of the Criminal Justice Division of the State of Texas which primarily funds this work! Many blessings to you for your heart for our kids!

We can't thank you enough!

Sharon Bayus, MA, LPC-S

President & CEO

Links:

Look us up online!

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