Julie Shematz's website is beautyfromashes.org/
This presentation was given at the 2015 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Summit: endexploitationmovement.com/summit-2015/
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION:
Aftercare that provides an ongoing, comprehensive, and integrated treatment for survivors is critical to their ability to overcome a variety of mental, physical, and social difficulties. Treatment requires addressing drug dependency and co-occurring disorders, as well as, the survivor’s strengths, from a holistic perspective. This program will explore a multidisciplinary, faith integrated, best practices approach to recovery for survivors of abuse and exploitation. The process and tools for recovery will be presented from a clinical, faith based approach, which includes Julie’s personal testimony of beauty from ashes.
BIO:
Julie Shematz has more than 20 years of experience working with victims and is a nationally recognized expert for human trafficking survivor-centered program development and outreach strategies. She founded Beauty from Ashes™ Ministries, Inc., the first human trafficking, overcomer-led, community service agency in the state of Florida in 2005. In 2014, Mrs. Shematz became the Director of Social Services for The Salvation Army in Tampa/Hillsborough County, where she developed The Salvation Army’s first approved human trafficking program in the state. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University. Mrs. Shematz was a recipient of the 2011 Mensa and 2012 Philanthropic Educational Organization Scholarships and in 2013 was nominated for graduate student of the year. She received the MAKERS Award in 2014 and is also an accomplished fine artist. Additionally, she has extensive training in Art and Equine Assisted Learning and Therapies; programs she developed and implemented for Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries. Celebrating 12 years of marriage this year, she and her husband, Steve, reside in central Florida with their six horses and three dogs.
