New Friends New Life

“FORM 990, PART III LINE 4a: New Friends New Life (NFNL) addresses the problem of sex trafficking in Dallas by stepping in to ensure survivors of trafficking and exploitation have the mental, tangible, and economic tools necessary to escape the sex trade for good, as well as advocating for policy change and education to bring awareness to trafficking and aid prevention efforts. From a 2022 census of NFNL survivors (who we call members), 75% of women screened at intake qualified for significant symptoms of PTSD, 62% have been diagnosed with a physical health condition. 79% of NFNL members report earning less than $25,000 annually, living 70% below HUD's median income levels for Dallas. 35% of new program members report being homeless, 50% have less than a high school diploma, 44% are surviving on public assistance alone, and 60% hold a criminal record from acts they were forced to carry out while being exploited. It's harder to find a job, rent an apartment, and otherwise rebuild a life after breaking free from a trafficking situation. This lack of financial and legal independence coupled with crippling mental trauma raises the risk of survivors being forced or coerced back into sex trafficking, seeing no other option for their futures. NFNL helps women and girls soar above the limits of their past to achieve their dreams. The direct services NFNL provides to restore and empower survivors of sex trafficking, who we call members, include: .Four-phase, trauma-informed Women's Program including individual/group counseling, case management, and economic empowerment tools. This program helps adult women mentally recover from histories of abuse and exploitation and provides financial support for basic living expenses to bridge the gap to self-sufficiency. .Youth Resource Center (YRC) recognizes, recovers, and restores high-risk, exploited, and trafficked girls ages 12 - 22 through trauma-informed care. The YRC provides counseling, case management, and life skills programming to help girls recover and reroute their life trajectories away from exploitation. .Adult Resource Center (ARC) provides technology access, basic computer and life-skills training, and vocational and job readiness preparation opportunities. .Employment Partnership Program helps members transition into conventional employment, and partners with business in the North Texas area to transition members into entry-level, livable wage jobs with the goal of advancement and skill-building. Women in this program can accept internships, temporary assignments, and permanent positions to gain a variety of experience. .Additionally, NFNL provides quality Childcare Programming so mothers can attend educational classes, with capacity to facilitate children's therapy when needed to help children of members who have PTSD from witnessing or being victims of abuse and exploitation. .New in 2022 is the on-site Legal Advocacy Clinic providing our women with legal aid by reviewing legal histories, creating legal action plans, leading cases on behalf of survivors (who we call members), and maintaining a Legal Advocacy Fund to help with court fees. .Liberty Street Garden broke ground in Summer 2023. It is an innovative partnership between The Meadows Foundation, NFNL, and Bonton Farms that provides survivors a means to earn a living wage as they build a new life. New Friends New Life actively engages in community education and advocacy through: .The manKINDness ProjectT, an interactive learning experience tailored for young men in middle school, high school, and college. Developed with input from clinical psychologists and child development experts, manKINDness workshops create open dialogues around valuing and respecting girls and women and educate young men on the harmful effects of derogatory language, disrespectful actions, unhealthy social media behavior, viewing pornography, and other relevant habits which fuel the exploitation and violence against women. .The Men's Advocacy Group (M”

“Form 990, PART VI, LINE 11B: Form 990 is reviewed in detail by the audit committee to the board members & Discussed in general terms prior to the filing of the return”

“Form 990, PART VI, LINE 12C: Compliance with the conflict of interest policy is monitored by the treasurer, who is aware of all financial transactions with board members and other related parties. It is also monitored by the executive director, who has access to financial records of the organization.”

“Form 990, Part VI, LINES 15A & 15B: Annual compensation for the executive director is reviewed by the compensation committee of the board, after reviewing competitive compensation data for other nonprofit organizations of similar size located in the Dallas metropolitan area and after reviewing the individual's performance for the year. Recommendation of appropriate compensation is then made to the board of directors, who acts upon the recommendation of the committee. The committee also reviews compensation of other staff members to determine appropriate levels, as well as how such aggregate compensation complies with the organization's annual budget. It then recommends any aggregate increases, based on what nonprofit organizations of similar size in the Dallas metropolitan AREA are planning for the year, with such aggregate increases to be approved by the board. The executive director then has discretion to apportion the aggregate increase among the individual staff employees, based on performance and competitive levels for each position.”

“FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 19: The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public upon request.”