What about the boys?
Thank you for fifteen years of partnering with New Day to provide safe housing and therapeutic care for America’s sex trafficked girls! We’re often asked, “What about the boys?” Studies estimate between 36% and 50% of domestic minor sex trafficking victims in the United States are boys. And while there are very limited resources for recovered girls, we have not been able to identify a single care home for sex trafficked boys in the country.
““The little notice given to boys primarily identifies them as exploiters, pimps and buyers of sex, or as active and willing participants in sex work, not as victims or survivors of exploitation. ”
From long-time friend, Lyn
It was over 10 years ago that I learned that boys are trafficked too. My heart was completely broken - who will care for the boys? I started telling others, trying to convince people to open a home for recovered boys, but got nowhere. In 2016, when my husband John sold his advertising agency, we set money aside to build one, but I still needed a partner who could run the home. Many times I thought we were close, but the door would shut…sometimes with a slam.
In 2020, I met Vicki, director of NDC partner program for girls called, Sarah’s Home. Vicki told me she wanted to build a home for boys called, Daniel’s Home. I had envisioned the name Joseph Academy. Both names of faithful men of the Bible who were taken into slavery and rose to become second to the king. The names were merged and the joint vision for Daniel Academy was born!
In 2021, we were excited when property was donated to build Daniel Academy! But then we waited, and waited…and waited for a building plan and bids. Early on in this time of waiting, God gave me a dream about a house I was to buy for a specific amount of money. Was it for personal use? Daniel Academy? Another ministry? For months, I was adding up costs for every house and property that came my way to determine if this was the one. Then in March 2024, Vicki sent me the budget to get Daniel Academy built and it was the exact amount God had given me in my dream!
The boys will enjoy 55 beautiful acres on which to heal, and learn and thrive. A five bedroom home as well as a barn will be built to include a half court gym, accredited school classroom, and a workshop to teach the boys a trade.
““Thanks be to God who acts, who builds, who brings to fruition!” ”
I’m grateful to God, and for my husband John, who was faithfully trusting and waiting too. John had to trust that the vision God gave me was true, and that the money he worked for and set aside, would be used for this purpose. God gave me a burden for boys and a dream, but He worked through John to make it happen!
To our knowledge, Daniel Academy will be the only home specifically for exploited boys in the United States. Please be in prayer for the boys who will come to Daniel Academy and the staff who will serve them.
