About ASC’s Current Beneficiary

Founded in 2017, POETIC is a comprehensive, in-community program for youth who have experienced child maltreatment, commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. POETIC builds a seamless bridge out of the juvenile justice system and child protective system and into comprehensive services equipping youth to avoid the cycle of revictimization. POETIC’s nationally recognized five-systems model puts an on-site school, trauma therapy center with 24/7 access to support, creative art therapy, clinical case management and advocacy, and paid internships all under one roof. 

79,000 youth are estimated to be victims of sex trafficking within the state of Texas (UT, 2017), and 19,000 of those youth are projected to be in the DFW metroplex. Human trafficking survivors have an alarming higher-than-average rate of suicidal thoughts with a percentage of 23% of survivors having attempted suicide, compared with 3% of the population with no prior exposure (SHERO Foundation, 2015). Studies have also shown significant correlations between childhood trauma and lifelong health problems, including depression and other mental health conditions, chronic lung and heart diseases, autoimmune, and other diseases (Center for Healthcare Strategies).  

Traffickers prey on our community's most vulnerable youth – those who have been abused, homeless and involved with Child Protective Services (CPS). Those with a history of sexual abuse are five times more likely to recidivate than those without a history of sexual abuse.

Currently, 100% of POETIC youth have a history of childhood sexual abuse. In addition to enduring unimaginable abuse, the most common responses to victimization – self-protective responses like running away or defending themselves against a perpetrator – are also the most common offenses for which youth are incarcerated.   

When youth are criminalized for their victimization, they endure additional trauma through incarceration, and their underlying mental health and other vulnerability factors are not addressed, leading to a repeat cycle that fuels the sexual abuse to prison pipeline.  

Best practice models of care for child victims show that youth are not free from a life of trafficking and exploitation until they are able to function in their own communities in a healthy and positive way. 

Research consistently validates that there is a critical and time-sensitive window of opportunity immediately after youth are released from juvenile detention when the strongest need for therapy, skill development, application and practice is required. This is where POETIC comes in with its critical, life-saving services. 

  • Trauma Therapy. Every POETIC girl is paired with a licensed therapist trained in trauma and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and a clinical case worker. They participate in individual, group therapy and multi-family DBT therapy with their parents or guardians – all at no cost. POETIC’s support team is available 24/7.

  • Creative Arts Studio.  Through art therapy, POETIC girls have the opportunity to explore their emotions and express themselves through creative mediums. This immersion in creativity builds self-identity, self-value and self-love.

  • Design Co. A lack of financial means is the number one lure back into a life of exploitation. POETIC Design Co. empowers girls to find their unique career paths through paid internships, job opportunities and financial literacy courses, helping them to develop the skills to make informed decisions for the future. 

  • POETIC School for Girls. The teachers in POETIC’s on-site homeschool provide individualized education for girls to earn a high school diploma or GED. For those attending public school, POETIC provides educational advocacy to ensure their needs are properly assessed and accommodations are provided. 

  • Clinical Case Management and Advocacy. POETIC’s clinical case managers offer guidance in applying for government IDs, enrolling in health insurance, accessing medical professionals, creating a resume and learning job interview skills. POETIC also provides court advocacy and mentorship so youth can move forward to an empowered future.

POETIC has surpassed every program goal. 95% of POETIC youth avoid returning to the juvenile justice system, over 80% report increased utilization of coping skills and over 80% enrolled in POETIC School progress in educational attainment. 

POETIC is grateful for the overwhelming support of the Dallas corporate, non-profit, and philanthropic community. In 2019, POETIC was named United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Social Innovator of the Year. POETIC was also selected for two national catalyst programs (BBVA and Stand Together) and was chosen by Social Venture Partners (SVP) for an investment in thought leadership to create POETIC’s Entrepreneurial Institute and social enterprise, From Discard to Purpose® stationary. POETIC’s team was honored to be named DCEO Non-Profit Team of the Year in 2019. In 2022, POETIC received Dallas Psychological Association’s Pam Blumenthal Community Service Award for their “dedication to human rights abuse survivors and multicultural communities of North Texas.” 

POETIC is thrilled to be the 2024-2025 beneficiary of Attorneys Serving Community. The POETIC team looks forward to partnering with ASC to raise funds and awareness in support of POETIC’s critical mission.