New Horizons House

New Horizons goal is to provide high-quality, restoration and rehabilitative services to survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse in a residential setting and to allow them to re-enter mainstream society with dignity and hope. These holistic services typically include medical care, trauma counseling, education and vocational training.

Organizations involved in undercover rescue operations work together with local police authorities to rescue underage victims who are being held against their will and forced to work in brothels, dance bars, and other businesses that offer sex for money. When a sting operation is successfully executed, the rescued girls are taken to a government holding facility where a decision is made regarding the welfare of each child. The Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development's Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) determine whether an aftercare home meets the necessary requirements to care for children who will be released into their care. Since New Horizons has been established as a qualified aftercare home by both ICPS and CWC, we become the legal guardian for minor girls (ages 12-18) who need a safe place to rebuild their lives.

Upon arrival, each girl goes through an intake process and then receives long-term, personalized restorative and rehabilitative care which includes (but is not necessarily limited to) the following elements:

• Medical treatment (including physical exams and vaccinations) administered by a licensed physician
• Psychological assessment administered by a licensed mental health worker (e.g., psychologist, social worker, etc.).
• Individual Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Group therapy
• Recreational therapy (e.g., dance therapy, art therapy, music therapy, etc.).
• Basic educational curriculum conducted by certified teachers
• Life-skills training (e.g., conflict resolution, basic financial skills, cooking, transportation, women's health & hygiene, nutrition, etc.) provided by one or more “house-mothers"
• Vocational training (e.g., tailoring, medical assistant, IT, etc.)
• Recreation and “free" time (including staff-led field trips and outings)
• Other opportunities for spiritual and emotional development

New Horizons delivers the aftercare services through a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Helping Hands Social Action Society (Helping Hands), a registered Indian entity authorized to receive foreign funds. The formal Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) was signed by New Horizons and Helping Hands on July 31, 2014.

Several of New Horizons' Board members have had a long-term working relationship with members of Helping Hands' Board of Directors. For more than two decades they have worked together to implement a multi-faceted outreach / social welfare program providing educational services, vocational training and medical services in Andhra Pradesh through a separate NGO.

The joint venture capitalizes on our existing relationships and allow New Horizons to provide efficient, comprehensive restorative and rehabilitative services for minor girls using local, culturally relevant resources.

Under the terms of the JVA, New Horizons is responsible for:

• the overall direction, development and management of the Program and the facility, in collaboration with Helping Hands;
• facilitating the financing of the Joint Venture and the operation of the facility, through its own fundraising efforts;
• handling media and public relations inquiries and communications, in collaboration with Helping Hands; and
• supporting Helping Hands in answering any inquiries from the Government of India or its' local jurisdictions.

Under the terms of the JVA, Helping Hands is responsible for:

• identifying suitable properties for the construction of the facility, and actively participating in the negotiation and acquisition of the land, under the direction of New Horizons;
• developing architectural plans for the facility, which shall be submitted to New Horizons for approval and consent;
• meeting all Legal Requirements and file all regulatory applications with Governmental Authorities in India, under the supervision of and with the support of New Horizons; and
• managing and operating the facility in accordance with the terms of the New Horizons Program documents and applicable law.

From 2013 - 2017 we raised over $500,000 to purchase a 2.3 acre parcel in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh and to construct a state-of-the art dormitory, administration building and staff housing.

New Horizons opened our initial residential facility in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in 2018 and is currently providing comprehensive rehabilitative services (including trauma counseling, medical care, educational opportunities and vocational training) to 55 girls ages 12-18.

In 2021 we opened our Transition House for girls aged 18-21 who have graduated from our program and who are interested in additional vocational training, pursuing a university degree or participating in a formal entrepreneurial business training program.

Our program allows the girls to acquire the confidence and skills they need to be able to make alternate choices for themselves and their futures. Today a number of our girls are attending junior college and several recent graduates have started their own small businesses and are not only supporting themselves but their families as well.