What We Do
Helping Youth Experiencing Sexual Exploitation
a healing
journey for youth survivors
The Safe Harbor Division works to help youth victims of sex trafficking and/or exploitation transition into safety and begin healing from trauma, as they build healthy, stable futures free from exploitation.
The Link is one of the primary Safe Harbor providers in our state, working in partnership with the state of Minnesota and Hennepin County’s Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door Response. All of The Link’s Safe Harbor programs are grounded in best practices for working with sexually exploited youth and proudly serve youth of all gender identities – including young people who identify as male, female, transgender, and gender non-conforming.
Crisis Intervention
The West Metro Regional Navigator offers immediate crisis response for sexually exploited youth of all gender identities under the age of 24. Providing a 24/7 response for sex-trafficked youth for the counties of Hennepin, Scott and Carver, the Navigator supports each youth with an individualized safety plan, mobile case management, and connections to the variety of services they need, including longer-term housing programs.
Safety and Stability
The Passageways Emergency Shelter and Housing Program provides specialized shelter for youth ages 12 to 17 and long-term supportive housing for youth of all gender identities who are ages 16 to 24 (including parenting youth with children) who are victims of sex trafficking. The program also provides a variety of on-site services specific to sexual exploitation including case management, mental health care, educational programming, a survivor mentor program, health care services, and more.
Safe Harbor Supportive Services
Safe Harbor’s Supportive Services program provides resources and awareness to at-risk youth of all gender identities and essential support to youth after their involvement with one or more of the other Safe Harbor programs. The goal of this program is to help youth if another crisis arises, provide support as they transition back into their community, and offer ongoing substance use recovery and treatment services.
Survivor Advisory Committee
Youth who have lived experience of sexual exploitation help to oversee our Safe Harbor Division and join us as leaders in the movement to end youth sex trafficking.