Cedar Valley, Iowa, Child Victim Recovery, Advocacy & Safe Housing Program:A Rural Child Trafficking Trauma Recovery and Treatment Adaptation Center - Let My Children Go, Inc. Cedar Valley, Iowa, Child Victim Recovery, Advocacy, and Safe Housing Program: A Rural Child Trafficking, Trauma Recovery, and Treatment Adaptation Initiative: Child survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, abuse, and other forms of complex trauma experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, drug addiction, suicidal ideation, and educational disruption. These behavioral health conditions are frequently compounded by repeated victimization, family instability, housing insecurity, and limited access to specialized trauma-informed treatment. Children living in rural communities face additional barriers, including shortages of behavioral health providers, transportation challenges, fragmented systems of care, and limited access to multiple health-related services. This program is designed to improve the lives of girls ages 12–17 who have experienced trafficking, exploitation, and complex trauma. The program will primarily serve a 20-county rural region of Northeast Iowa. Over the two-year initial project period, the program will serve approximately 20–25 children. Anticipated outcomes include reductions in trauma-related symptoms, improved emotional and behavioral functioning, increased family engagement, improved educational stability, and stronger collaboration among community partners. The project will also evaluate treatments that improve behavioral health outcomes for rural child survivors of trafficking and complex trauma, contributing knowledge that may benefit other underserved communities across Iowa and beyond. Through this initiative, Let My Children Go, Inc. seeks to ensure that every child served has the opportunity to move from victimization to healing, resilience, and lifelong recovery. PROJECT SUMMARY Restoring Hope • Rebuilding Lives • Protecting Children Community Partnerships The project will work collaboratively with behavioral health providers, healthcare organizations, child welfare agencies, law enforcement, juvenile justice system, victim service organizations, and community-based organizations to ensure coordinated, multidisciplinary care. Vision Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves healing. Every child deserves hope. Mission To provide comprehensive, trauma-informed behavioral health treatment, long-term housing, and coordinated recovery services for child survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and complex trauma while strengthening rural systems of care throughout Iowa.
