I G

N I

T Y

There is a misconception about prostitution…that these women choose this lifestyle.

What people do not realize is that most women entered the life at age 13 when they aretoo young to make a choice.

85 percent of them were sexually abused as children making them vulnerable to thosewho prey on them.

90% of prostituted individuals began under the abduction/direction of a pimp.

They were befriended by someone they thought loved them and cared for them.

By the time they found out this person just wanted to sell them, it was too late.

They had been hooked on drugs and physically and emotionally abused—made to believethat this is all they are good for…all that they deserve.

92 percent want to leave “the life” but don’t know how.

Catholic Charities DIGNITY programs reach out to these women on the streets, in the jails.

Many of our DIGNITY staff have escaped the life and know how to find these women, howto reach them, how to gain their trust.

83 percent of those who complete our jail diversion program in partnership with the City ofPhoenix do not re-offend.

90 percent of those who complete our residential program leave the life for good.

The average citizen does not know the frightening details of the average age of 13 or the

enslavement to a pimp…The average citizen believes it is a “choice”…they do not know

that these girls are victims of abuse. Your Immersion Program contributes to society’s

awareness! We hope this Award will assist you in making this program increasingly

available throughout the community. – Margaret L. Daggett, M.Ed., Cherish the Children

 Award Chairperson

To learn more about our programs for trafficked victims, please visitCatholicCharitiesAZ.org/Dignity .

 

 

The DIGNITY  Residential Program 

What: 

DIGNITY is a six month voluntary residential program for women who are victims of

domestic sex trafficking and prostitution. DIGNITY assists women in exiting the sex

industry and lead successful lives free of drugs and alcohol. Services Include but are

not limited to:

Case Management 12‐Step Program Individual Therapy

Trauma Group therapy Life Skills Classes Support Groups

Financial Literacy Classes

Who: 

Single women over the age of 18 who have a history of prostitution.

Where: 

Phoenix, Arizona.

Phone: 602.870.0376

When: 

Kathleen Mitchell founded the DIGNITY (Developing Individual Growth and New

Independence Through Yourself) program because she understood the revolving

door of jail for prostituted women. There were simply no programs to address their

specific issues of victimization, abuse, low self‐esteem or emotional and financial

dependency on their controllers (pimps).

With her belief that survivor‐run programs are the best way to help prostituted

women leave “The Life," DIGNITY began:

1989 ‐ DIGNITY was founded in Durango Jail by Kathleen Mitchell

1992 ‐ Kathleen partnered with Catholic Charities to provide outreach and teach

life‐skills classes to women at risk.

1995 ‐ DIGNITY became a program of Catholic Charities and partnered with the Girl

Scouts Arizona Cactus‐Pine Council’s juvenile justice program.

1996 ‐ DIGNITY opened its first residential recovery program.

1997 ‐ DIGNITY partnered with the city of Phoenix to offer its diversion program to

allow women a chance to make a major life change without going to jail

 

 Why: 

Everyday women and young girls are being sold for sex. 13 years old is the national

average for a young girl to be turned out into prostitution and that number is

dropping every year. DIGNITY recognizes that prostituted women are victims of

domestic sex trafficking and are in need of special services to address the needs of

this specialized population.

  Sex ‐Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation,  provisions, 

or  obtaining of  a  person through  force,  fraud  or  coercion,  for  the 

 purpose of  a commercial  sex  act. 

How: 

DIGNITY Program receives funds from The Prostitution Solicitation Diversion

Program. Client fees offset the cost of treating the women‐ The program receives

funds through the CDA, United Way, Catholic Healthcare West, Order of Malta , and

program service fees. DIGNITY Program also receives funding through various

donations, fundraisers and outreach events such as the Immersion Experience to

raise funds.

DIGNITY currently has six beds for the one‐year residential program and two 

transitional apartments for recent graduates of the program as of 2013.

Referrals for DIGNITY Programs come from a variety of places including the Phoenix

Police, FBI, Behavior Health Programs, Jail Outreach Programs, Street Outreach

Programs and Self‐ referrals.

Challenges: 

The women in the DIGNITY program face many challenges throughout their year in

the program. These women experience a high level of shame and guilt which can

hinder their recovery and make it difficult to face treatment. They also face

challenges with finding employment due to no work history or felony/misdemeanor

charges on their record. These women learn how to live a new life while in DIGNITY;

this is not an easy process and takes time.

How Can I Help: 

There are numerous volunteer opportunities with DIGNITY Programs. Please

contact Catherine Ochoa, cochoa@cc‐az.org for more information on how to get

involved with DIGNITY Programs. You can also visit our website at

CatholicCharitiesaz.org. We are also on Facebook listed as Dignity Program.

 

 Please contact: 

Erica Reed

DIGNITY Program Manager

602‐749‐4432

ereed@cc‐az.org 

Catherine Ochoa

DIGNITY Program Case Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

602‐290‐7145

cochoa@cc‐az.org 

Tina Smithee

DIGNITY Program Outreach Worker I

602‐427‐8961

tsmithee@cc‐az.org 

To make a donation to DIGNITY Programs please drop off or mail donation to:

DIGNITY Program

1825 W. Northern Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85021

 

!"#$%&" (#)"(*+ ,& &"$-.&/"#,0# $*1 $22 &"$-& $3" -4" &$5" /3,#"6

7" 8"2- 5$*9 :8 :%3 &%//:3-"3& 7:%21 7$*- "$329 $##"&& -: -4" ;"&-

&"$-&< =%3#4$&,*+ ,* $1>$*#" 4$& ,-& ;"*"0-&? @,#)"-& $3" ABC6 $*1

">"39 /"**9 7" 3"#",>" 83:5 ">"39 (#)"- &:21 &(22 +:"& -: -4"

#$%&"<D !" &%3" -: %&" /3".&$2" #:1" EFGHF@IJF= 74"* 9:%

/%3#4$&" 9:%3 (#)"-&<

 " #$%&' ()&*& +, - ./ (+01&%2-,%&* 3&& $4 -55 601&%, %)+, 7&-*8 ,$%)& *&2-+4+49 .:; <& *&0&+=& 3*$2 &-0) ,&-% ,$5> 9$&, %$ %)&-3$*&2&46$4&> $*9-4+?-6$4

May 10, 2014 COMEDY FUNDRAISER

FREE TO LAUGH: LAUGH TO FREE

to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation everywhere

Purchasing tickets?

Remember pre-sale code

DIGNITYVIP