Rest Stop Ministries, Inc.
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615-965-2647
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PO Box 156
Hermitage, TN 37076
Organization Details

Statements

Mission

Rest Stop Ministries' Mission and Vision are in our name! The mission of Rest Stop Ministries is to comprehensively restore survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. The vision is to stop the criminal oppression of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

RSM operates with sustainable excellence our long-term residential restoration program in the Nashville, TN area for adult female survivors of domestic sex trafficking; a safe and beautiful place where female survivors are offered an array of restorative services while living in a loving and supportive trauma-informed community.
We opened our doors in November 2015 and are getting excellent outcomes. We have a current capacity for 8 women, and plan to grow and expand our service reach as funding permits.

The primary goal of our program is to inspire these women to reimagine their lives and to empower and equip them to live healthy, financially independent, purpose-filled lives.

Our strategic vision includes continuing to develop Good Hope Farms: the Hope Enterprise & Workforce Empowerment pillar of our residential restoration program, which officially launched in 2021, to provide safe and accessible job training and initial employment opportunities, Alumni Aftercare to provide continued supportive services for clients and graduates, as well as an Advocacy/Education arm at www.endsextrafficking.com, our newly purchased domain for education and awareness.

Background

Rest Stop Ministries, Inc. is a not-for-profit faith-based organization in the Nashville, TN area dedicated to comprehensively restoring female survivors of domestic sex trafficking and stopping this criminal oppression.

RSM officially launched October 20, 2012 after 16 months of research and needs assessment, legally incorporating as a 501(c)3 organization with the State of TN on March 25, 2013, and received our tax exempt status with the IRS on May 15, 2014.
In May 2015, we purchased 25 acres and two beautiful homes in Lebanon, TN, opening the doors of our residential restoration program in November 2015.

Rev. Dr. Rondy Smith is the Founder and CEO/Executive Director. Dr. Smith felt led to this effort through her compassionate ministries work and involvement with AncoraTN, formerly End Slavery Tennessee. Through this partnership, Dr. Smith was encouraged to work toward opening the first long-term care facility in the area designed specifically for survivors.
Dr. Smith has assembled a strong Board of Directors, highly credentialed staff team, active volunteer base, faithful donor base, and many strategic partners invaluable for the accomplishment of the vision of this organization.

RSM has developed a program of excellence, meeting best-practice standards in the field and emulated models with verified best results, including mentorship from AncoraTN and Thistle Farms, and are members of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance. The primary goal of the organization is to inspire survivors to reimagine their lives and to empower and equip them to live healthy, financially independent, purpose-filled lives.

RSM provides an array of comprehensive restoration services through a 24/7 staffed Total Therapeutic Environment housing-first program model providing trauma-informed mental and emotional support - all free of charge to the resident.
One critical factor in stopping the cycle of oppression is economic independence. Our Social Enterprise, Good Hope Farms, provides opportunities for residents to participate in training, education, and development opportunities. Participation will increase employment readiness, leading to workplace success, and residents will receive compensation, cultivating financial literacy.
In addition, quality aftercare is provided through transitional planning and follow-up services. We anticipate a lifetime of mentoring relationships with our clients and graduates.

Impact

Rest Stop Ministries has been serving survivors since opening in November 2015. As of July 2023, we have served 54 women from across 17 states.

Residents who participate in RSM's 18-24-month restorative residential program receive all necessary care, food, shelter, clothing, transportation, etc. completely free of charge to them. On average, the annual cost for one woman to participate in the program for one year is at minimum $35,000 - the same cost for one year of incarceration, but with more positive outcomes and reduced recidivism rates!

RSM partners with various medical, dental, vision care providers in the community in order to provide the necessary services for each resident to pursue restoration in all areas of her life.

Residents receive mental health support through a variety of group therapy sessions, group studies, and individual weekly therapy with our on-staff Trauma Therapist. To develop a treatment plan and assess progress, residents take a variety of mental health assessments using several instruments at intake, then every six months after that. Data shows that 89% of residents saw a 75% or greater reduction in symptoms of PTSD, 100% of residents saw a decrease in feelings of loneliness, and an increase in feelings of self-esteem, their use of social support, and positive coping mechanisms.

Addiction recovery support is offered through group sessions and 12-step meetings in the community. Residents have reached many sobriety milestones as a result of this support.

Residents participate in individualized case management, in which they receive support creating financial plans, addressing legal matters, education and vocational goal-setting, family reconciliation or reunification plans, and more. RSM partners with various legal-aid agencies for referrals to our program, and for current residents to provide legal support and advocacy to resolve probation, custody, and other legal matters.

13 residents have either earned their first driver's license or had theirs reinstated, 8 residents have completed probation/parole, 8 pursued school, 18 residents found employment in the community, and 12 attained a car while participating in the program.

RSM has launched a Social Enterprise and Workforce Development Program, hiring a full-time dedicated Social Enterprise Manager. Through this program, residents have opportunities to learn and practice life skills, budgeting and financial literacy, job skills training and career counseling, resume building and interview skills, job search coaching, and healthy communication skills. Residents participating in the Social Enterprise earn an income for working hours in order to grow a savings account.

While RSM has provided additional supportive services for RSM alumni, RSM is developing a formalized Alumni Aftercare Program to offer continued support via case management, individualized therapy, and coaching once a resident has transitioned to living independently. Over 50% of RSM alumni have sought additional support from RSM, confirming this as a significant need.

RSM has continued to strategically expand, creating new paid staff positions in order to provide individualized support and expanded services. In addition, an unfinished portion of the house has been renovated, creating three additional office spaces allowing privacy for resident/staff meetings, and emergency/medical beds as needed.

RSM continues to increase awareness within the Middle TN community by offering in-person and virtual training sessions and presentations, as well as information via social media and e-newsletters on the complex trauma resulting from human trafficking, trauma-informed care, prevention, and more.

Needs

Our top 5 most pressing needs are: 1. Development Director for revenue generation and diversification for sustainable mission and vision accomplishment, particularly targeting an increase in regular monthly donors, a widening of our overall base of support, and cultivation of major donors. 2. Funding/in-kind partners for key needs outside the regular Operational Budget i.e. a security gate/fence and camera system, new flooring for new transitional apartment, finish "attic" space for more offices and a medical/detox bed, a tractor and pole barn for the farm/old barn demolition. 3. Affordable housing options in the Lebanon, TN area for our graduates transitioning to independent living. 4. Improved staff salaries & benefits 5. Board members and volunteer partners with Social Enterprise experience.

CEO Statement

Rest Stop Ministries was formed to fill a well-documented gap in services to survivors of sex trafficking. July 1, 2013, the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee enacted Public Chapter 464 (Senate Bill No. 1036) charging the Governor to establish a Human Trafficking Task Force to develop and implement a state plan for the prevention of human trafficking, including reviewing the effectiveness of existing services and facilities for victims and making recommendations regarding a system to coordinate victim services. The deliverables of the State Plan include identifying victims in the state, and identifying and coordinating community-based services for victims (specifically targeting faith-based organizations as strategic collaborative partners). This legislative action was in response to a report published in 2011 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Vanderbilt Center for Community Studies Tennessee Human Sex Trafficking and Its Impact on Children and Youth. The report concluded that no county in Tennessee was immune to the crime of sex trafficking. * 85% of all counties having documented cases. * Four TN counties (including Davidson) reported more than 100 cases each over a 24 month period. * 94 minors are trafficked every month in TN; 1,128 each year. The 2013 Comprehensive Plan for the Delivery of Services to Human Sex Trafficking Victims published by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (in accordance with Public Chapter 963) concludes that "Tennessee communities don't have sufficient services designed specifically for trafficking survivors." The Geography of Trafficking in Tennessee 2013 published by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suggests that rehabilitative services for survivors remain disjointed. The needs assessment validates RSM's existence and services. Our partners on the front lines of rescue and short term services are excited about our ability to provide this much needed, long-anticipated long-term residential care facility in such a quality way in a beautiful environment. Our referral base is growing rapidly, especially after becoming vetted members of the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance (NTSA).


Service Categories

Primary Category: Human Services  - Victims' Services 
Secondary Category: Housing, Shelter  - Housing & Shelter NEC 
Tertiary Category: Mental Health & Crisis Intervention  - Sexual Assault Services 

Areas Served

We serve any/all domestic USA cases/clients.

TN - Wilson
TN - Davidson
TN - Trousdale
TN - Coffee
TN - Rutherford
TN - Sumner
TN
National