Our History

The idea for Thrive New England began to take shape in March 2014 with a small group of passionate Mainers desiring to provide aftercare for teens who have survived the horrors of human trafficking.

As we learned more about the prevalence of human trafficking throughout New England, the devastating harm to the victims, and the limited options for comprehensive, specialized care, we determined to create a sustainable model for facilitating restoration.

After years of research and support from many volunteers, the Thrive Restorative Care Program was developed to meet the unique needs of teen survivors of sexual exploitation. Informed by adult survivor leaders, this program is specially designed to offer a long-term, survivor-driven, strengths-based restorative path, made possible by various trauma-informed partners, including – licensed professionals and professional groups, service agencies, faith-based organizations, colleges, etc.

During the research phase of Thrive’s development, the need for prevention measures to protect kids from exploitation became obvious. Teens usually have a period of time before being trafficked when they can say “no” and walk away. We knew that teens needed tools and training in order to recognize and avoid grooming, exploitation, and other dangerous situations.

In the Spring of 2018, we launched our Thrive Prevention Program at Sanford High School! This program has continued to expand into different locations and youth-serving organizations each semester. Our goal is to bring this prevention program to schools, colleges, and community groups in the New England area and stop trafficking before it takes place!

In early 2019, as a way of honoring and encouraging our survivor leaders, we began a program to equip adult survivors of trafficking as they transcend the trauma of their past and engage in personal growth. Thrive’s Survivor Leadership Program provides customized 1:1 coaching and support groups to provide practical guidance for building confidence and attaining goals.

We are excited for you to link arms with us and join our movement!

THE
TEAM

Our team is supported

by passionate volunteers

and devoted counselors,

some of whom are themselves

survivors of abuse.

We deeply appreciate

their dedication.

Nichole DaRosa

Chairman of the Board

Executive Officer

Patty Morrow

Board Member

Operations Officer

Finance Officer

Jennifer
Holt

Board Member

Marketing & Communications

Brynn Bowyer

Director of Programming & Survivor Leadership

Jen Dix

Board Member

Executive Assistant

Mariah Larocque

Board Member

Media Management

Elisa Johnson

Board Member

Awareness Advocate

Andrew Warner

Board Member

Program Consultant

Stacy Gebauer

Board Member

Website Management

Meg Bilodeau

Awareness Advocate

Marketing Consultant

Christina Meneghini

Church Engagement

Our Mission

TNE’s mission is to prevent sexual exploitation and human trafficking, to protect youth and survivors, and to promote healing by providing safe housing, prevention programming, wellness and recovery support, educational and vocational opportunities, and peer mentorship.

Our Vision

Our vision is of a world filled with communities that are too resilient for trafficking to exist.

We envision communities that are educated, empowered, and mobilized to be safer and stronger for everyone. Communities that prevent abuse, protect their young people, address all facets of the problem, and promote healing for survivors. It is through such communities and their action that we can heal the wounds this pervasive problem of human trafficking has left on all of us.

Our Approach

Provide mentorship, training, and advocacy to prevent the sexual exploitation of New England teens and offer restorative care for those directly impacted by sexual exploitation.

Our Core Values

RESPOND WITH INTEGRITY

CONNECT IN LOVE

SERVE WITH HUMILITY

PERSEVERE WITH COURAGE

FIND STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY

Follow Us Online

Follow and Share Posts on Social Media to Stay Up to Date

Despite facing homelessness and major challenges during her final year of high school, one of our teen clients held tight to her goals. This month she took her exam with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians; she passed with flying colors and is now a licensed EMT!

We are so proud of her perseverance, dedication, and resilience.

To everyone who advocates, encourages, and financially supports Thrive’s work with teens and survivors here in New England: this victory belongs to you, too. Your partnership makes moments like this possible.

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

Every dollar given from now until December 31, whether a one-time gift or monthly donation, will count in reaching our matching goal of $10,000, providing safety, support, and encouragement to teens and survivors here in New England.

Thank you for your continued generosity and partnership in this work!

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

🎉 Giving Tuesday + Beyond! 🎉

Every dollar you give is DOUBLED up to $10,000 in our Joy, Peace and #Giving Campaign from now until December 31!

With your help, we can raise $20,000 to fund four months of safety, support, and empowerment for survivors of sex trafficking. Your gift brings hope, healing, and opportunity—every single day.

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

Something BIG is launching tomorrow!
Will you help us unlock hope and double the impact for survivors in our community?
Keep an eye on this space—every act of kindness brings us closer to safety, support, and empowerment for teens and survivors.

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday—and we have incredible news you won’t want to miss.
Stay tuned.

Today is full of so many family traditions. One of our favorite is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, eating homemade stuffing and pie, and being gathered around the table or living room with the ones we love. What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

#THRIVENewEngland #HappyThanksgiving #gratitude

We have a lot to be grateful for this year at Thrive; for teens who are learning how to create healthy boundaries and achieving goals, survivors finding unconditional support and care through mentorship, and for a community of people like you who support this work to end the cycle of exploitation and trafficking here in New England.

What are you grateful for today?

#THRIVENewEngland #gratitude

We are grateful for Elisa and the passion she brings to the Thrive board.

What are you grateful for today?

#THRIVENewEngland #gratitude

Gratitude is a gamechanger for your physical, emotional, and mental health. At Thrive, we have been making gratitude a practice.
What are you grateful for today?

#THRIVENewEngland #EndExploitation #SupportSurvivors #gratitude

Healing from sexual exploitation and trafficking is not a straight line—but no one walks it alone. Thrive New England's survivor-centered services wrap around each young person with mentorship, emotional support, life-skills coaching, and a community that sees their strength long before they see it in themselves.

We celebrate every victory: the first moment of trust, the courage to set boundaries, the rediscovery of personal worth, and the joy of imagining a life beyond trauma. These are not small steps—these are milestones of resilience.

Every day, we witness survivors rise, rebuild, and reclaim their stories. And every day, we are honored to walk beside them.

#THRIVENewEngland #EmpowerSurvivors #EndExploitation #PreventionMatters

The Growing Threat
Online exploitation is rising at an alarming rate. Reports of online enticement increased 300% from 2021–2023—and the numbers are likely even higher today. Predators are targeting all youth, with boys being especially vulnerable.
Thorn’s data shows:
• 1 in 3 boys (9–12) experienced an online sexual interaction
• Many believed the other person was an adult
• Financial sextortion reports now number hundreds per week
Meanwhile, harmful behaviors are becoming “normal.”
1 in 5 minors say sharing nudes is normal, and 1 in 6 have received explicit images without consent—making grooming and coercion easier to miss.
The U.S. Surgeon General warns heavy social media use poses a “profound risk” to youth mental health, increasing anxiety, depression, and vulnerability to manipulation.
What We Can Do
At Thrive, we believe prevention changes everything.
Our Prevention Education Program:
✨ Teaches youth how to recognize and report grooming
✨ Helps communities stay safe online
✨ Challenges unhealthy cultural norms
Together, we can protect kids before harm happens.

#THRIVENewEngland #EndExploitation #PreventionMatters #SupportSurvivors

When 15-year-old Carly was referred to Thrive, she was caught in risky online relationships that left her feeling ashamed, hurt, and searching for real connection.

Through Thrive’s prevention education, she learned how to stay safe online — but it wasn’t easy. With continued mentorship, Carly began to understand something powerful: she had the choice to shape her future.

Her mentor helped her see that her value wasn’t defined by others online, but by the love and respect she had for herself.

And Carly chose differently.
She started deleting and blocking unsafe contacts, building healthy friendships, and reconnecting with people who truly cared.

Today, Carly is safe, confident, and free from risky online behavior. She knows her worth — and she’s thriving.

#ThriveStories #PreventionMatters #EmpowerTeens #OnlineSafety #ChooseYou #MentorshipHeals

Today we are grateful for all of you who support us through your advocacy, financial support, and encouragement.
What are you grateful for?
#thrivenewengland #endexploitation #gratitude

MONTHLY MILESTONES
We are thrilled to celebrate a massive turning point with one of our teen clients! For months, trust was built slowly through games and a consistent, safe connection. The true shift came this past month when the teen was invited to a crucial team meeting and watched their mentor fiercely advocate on their behalf. The mentor encouraged them to actively inform and shape their own care plan and future path. Witnessing that commitment earned complete buy-in. Now fully engaged, this teen is diving deep into the Thrive Healing Journal, accepting the hard truth that they're responsible for their own future. This acceptance is the key to unlocking their potential. Congratulations to our client on bravely taking ownership of their future!

#thrivenewengland #EndExploitation #DigitalSafety

The Thrive team is practicing gratitude this month. What are you grateful for?

#THRIVENewEngland #Gratitude #EndExploitation

Gratitude really can change everything.

When we take a moment to notice what we’re thankful for — big or small — our brains actually start to rewire for more joy and peace.

Research shows that practicing gratitude can boost happiness, lower stress, help us sleep better, and even strengthen our relationships.

What are you grateful for today?

#thrivenewengland #gratitude

Sure, our work is serious business, but that doesn't mean WE always have to be!

#thrivenewengland

When sending a risky pic becomes the ‘norm’ among friends, it’s not just hormone-driven experimentation — it’s a doorway to exploitation.

1 in 3 minors report having an online sexual interaction; 1 in 5 believe sharing nudes is just what people their age do. (Thorn)

We need to stop the idea that ‘everyone’s doing it’ makes it safe. It doesn’t. Let’s talk — honestly, early, and without shame — about what digital intimacy really means.

#thrivenewengland #endexploitation #OnlineSafety #onlinesafety

Last year, my 12-year-old daughter came home from school and shared that one of her friends had several “boyfriends” online who were asking her for pictures. Because we talk about online safety at home, my daughter recognized this as risky behavior and told me right away. We were able to notify the school so they could step in.

While she wasn’t directly targeted, my daughter still experienced the ripple effects of online exploitation — and because she was informed and empowered, she became a resource for her peers instead of a victim.

This is why prevention matters. When we equip young people with awareness, language, and trusted adults to turn to, we reduce harm before it starts. Education, open conversations, and early intervention truly save lives.

At Thrive, we believe prevention is not just protection — it’s empowerment.

#thrivenewengland #preventionmatters #flashpoint

This month, we’re celebrating one of our survivors who recently moved into a new apartment — and into a community where she feels supported and connected.

After years of battling isolation and loneliness, she has found a place where she belongs. This sense of connection has reduced her anxiety, strengthened her independence, and even lessened her need for services from Thrive.

It’s a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation.
Community — real, caring, consistent community — is what allows survivors to rebuild, grow, and thrive.

#thrivenewengland

This incredible survivor has been working with Thrive for over two years. When she first came to us, she was in crisis and still being trafficked — but today, she’s living independently and getting ready to graduate from our program!

Recently, she shared that while exploring a potential dating relationship, she recognized red flags and exploitative behaviors early on — and chose to walk away.

That decision might seem simple, but for someone who has experienced trafficking, it’s a huge milestone. It shows just how far she’s come in reclaiming her power, trusting her instincts, and building a life defined by safety and self-worth.

We’re so proud of her journey — and grateful to everyone who helps make moments like this possible.

#EmpowerSurvivors #ThriveNewEngland #HealingJourney #SurvivorStrength #EndExploitation

Thrive’s Board Retreat the last weekend in September was a meaningful time of planning, strategizing, and connecting as we looked ahead to the next season of impact. It was a great reminder of how the shared mission and support of this team continues to motivate and encourage us forward in this difficult work. We came away refreshed, focused and excited for the year ahead.
#thrivenewengland

5 Tips Kids Should Know When Going Online

1️⃣ Think before you post – Once it’s online, it’s hard to take back. Keep personal info private.

2️⃣ Know who you’re talking to – Don’t accept friend requests or messages from people you don’t know in real life.

3️⃣ Check privacy settings – Lock down your accounts so only trusted friends can see your posts.

4️⃣ Be cautious with links – Don’t click on links or download files from people you don’t know.

5️⃣ Tell someone you trust – If something online makes you uncomfortable, talk to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult.

Staying safe online isn’t about fear—it’s about protecting yourself.

Generative AI is everywhere—from funny pet videos to dream vacation homes. But it’s also being misused in alarming ways.

Abusers are taking innocent photos of kids from social media, manipulating them into harmful content, and using it for blackmail. Since 2023, reports of AI-generated exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have skyrocketed 1,325%.

At Thrive, we’re working to stop this. Our prevention programs help teens recognize grooming, protect themselves online, and build healthy, safe relationships.

Want Thrive to bring this program to your school or youth group? Email us at info@thrivenewengland.org.

What is CSAM?
Child Sexual Abuse Material = images/videos of child exploitation. It’s abuse, not “content.”

What can we do?
-Talk to kids about online safety & sextortion.
-Report suspicious content to NCMEC CyberTipline
-Call your senators & support the STOP CSAM Act
-Stand with survivors.

Together, we can take small steps to make big impact.

📚✨ School is back in session, which makes now the perfect time to have conversations with your student about staying safe online.

Open communication is key—when kids feel heard and have ownership in the conversation, they’re more likely to follow through on setting and keeping healthy boundaries. 💬💻

Take a few minutes this week to talk with your student about how they connect online, and remind them that you’re always there if something doesn’t feel right.

Together, we can help them build safe and confident online habits.

Community matters to everyone—but for survivors of trafficking, it can mean the difference between moving forward in freedom or being pulled back into exploitation.

At Thrive, we know that isolation is one of the greatest risks survivors face. That’s why we focus on helping them build healthy, supportive connections through mentorship, peer groups, and community partnerships.

When survivors find belonging, they also find stability, encouragement, and hope for the future. 💙

Together, we can create communities where survivors are not just safe, but truly thrive.

Andrew Warner is Thrive's newest board member. He is the Director of Overdose Prevention in the City of Manchester. He has been doing street outreach for ten years where he has worked with many trafficked individuals. This is his "Why I Thrive".

"By all these lovely tokes of September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer." Helen Hunt Jackson
Fall is such an amazing season and September is already putting on a lovely show. What is your favorite part of September?

1 in 5 kids in New England have been targeted online for sextortion.

At Thrive New England, we’re making sure kids know what to do when it happens. Our Youth Prevention Program teaches teens how to recognize grooming, sextortion, and trafficking—and how to report it.

Every child deserves to feel safe online.

#ThriveNewEngland #Prevention #StopSextortion #ProtectKids

When a problem is big, it feels like it takes a big solution to fix it, and the pervasive problem of sexual exploitation and trafficking is a huge problem.
But big and even huge problems don't usually get solved with big solutions. Usually, the solution comes by finding small, manageable actions that work together with other small, manageable actions to make a big difference.

Two of Thrive's Board Members have started small and made a big impact:

Elisa @elisabjohnson challenged her online followers to donate monthly in celebration of her 30th birthday, and now Thrive has 7 new Monthly Donors.

Mariah @mariahlarocque @missrevolutionaryworld is using her love of running to raise money for Thrive's programs and has raised $725!

You can start small too!
✨ Give monthly—steady support means steady care for survivors.
✨ Share our mission—spread the word on social media or with friends.
✨ Volunteer your time or skills—we can’t do this work without community.
✨ Learn & advocate—educate yourself on trafficking and speak up to raise awareness.

How are you going to start small?

Prevention is the key to ending trafficking. At Thrive, it’s woven into everything we do—from teaching teens how to spot grooming and report exploitation, to walking alongside survivors so they don’t get pulled back into the cycle.

The reality is heartbreaking: studies show up to 80% of trafficked women return to their abusers. That’s why our prevention work matters so much.

You can be part of the solution:
✨ Talk with the teens in your life about healthy relationships
✨ Share this post to spread awareness
✨ Partner with us by supporting Thrive’s prevention programs

Together, we can stop trafficking before it starts. 💛

HOW WILL YOU USE YOUR FREEDOM TO GIVE FREEDOM?
Thanks to our new monthly donors who joined through our Fundraise for Freedom campaign, more survivors are walking toward safety, independence, and hope.

Monthly giving means more than keeping the lights on—it means long-term, life-changing mentorship, care, and opportunities for survivors of trafficking.

We’re at a turning point. As needs grow and funding shrinks, your partnership ensures we can hire the staff and expand the programs survivors urgently need.

It doesn’t have to be big—run a race, host a cornhole game, sell lemonade, share our story. Your passion fuels someone’s freedom.

Let’s use our freedom to give freedom.

#thrivenewengland #fundraiseforfreedom #EndTrafficking

The Office on Trafficking in Persons—created 25 years ago with bipartisan support—is facing devastating cuts, with reports of up to 71% of staff positions eliminated.

This office has been a lifeline for countless survivors. These cuts don’t just reduce federal support—they shift even more pressure onto small, grassroots organizations like Thrive to fill the gaps.

Survivors deserve more, not less. Here’s how you can help:
🔹 Learn the signs of trafficking and exploitation
🔹 Support grassroots orgs like @ThriveNewEngland
🔹 Contact your representatives—urge them to protect anti-trafficking funding
🔹 Share this post to spread awareness
🔹 Give monthly to keep vital support consistent

#EndTrafficking #ThriveNewEngland

Everyone has a role to play in ending sexual exploitation and trafficking.

You don’t have to be an expert—you just have to care.
🔹 Learn the signs
🔹 Support survivor-led organizations
🔹 Have open conversations with kids and teens
🔹 Use your voice to advocate for change
🔹 Give, volunteer, or share

Together, we can make a difference!

We talk a lot about Sextortion because we are so passionate about keeping our kids safe. 81% of all Sextortion happens online and almost 40% of all kids from age 9-17 have been approached online by someone wanting to take advantage of them.

We are trying to end the cycle of exploitation and trafficking by creating relevant and accessible prevention education to help teens spot online and in-person exploitation and know how to report it.
We can't always be there to prevent them from risky situations, but we can empower them to protect themselves.

Find out more at our website.

🌍 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Today, we pause to shine a light on the millions of lives impacted by human trafficking around the world — including right here in our own communities.

This year’s theme reminds us that every survivor deserves dignity, support, and the chance to heal. At Thrive New England, we walk alongside survivors on their journey toward true freedom — offering housing, advocacy, trauma-informed care, and the unwavering belief that recovery is possible.

🟦 Trafficking hides in plain sight.
🟪 Survivors deserve more than awareness — they deserve action.
🟧 Together, we can break the cycle.

Often times we equaite a survivor's escape as freedom. But that is not the truth. Our Program Director, Brynn Bowyer, has a few words to say about the disparity of freedom for survivors.

What is freedom?
For a survivor of sexual exploitation or trafficking, freedom isn't just physical escape — it's the ability to live without fear, shame, or control from others. It's reclaiming the right to make choices, feel safe in your own body, and be seen as more than what was done to you.

Barriers to freedom can include trauma, lack of safe housing, limited access to resources, stigma, ongoing threats or manipulation, and systems that often fall short in supporting long-term healing.

True freedom means stable housing, a supportive community, access to trauma-informed care and essential resources, and — most importantly — the power of choice. It’s the opportunity to rebuild a life with safety, dignity, and hope.

Thrive New England walks alongside survivors on this journey, offering consistent, compassionate support and practical tools for healing. We’re committed to meeting survivors where they are, helping them take each step toward lasting freedom — not alone, but surrounded by people who believe in their worth and potential.

There are so many ways you can support anti-trafficking work that don't cost you a penny! Share a post, tag a friend, have a conversation in a grocery aisle. All these small acts come together to make a big impact!

#conversationsmatter #showingupmatters #thrivenewengland

As a Board Member, @elisabjohnson is passionate about the work Thrive does and so she has committed to use her network for good by participating in our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. She is challenging her online and in-person community to help her reach her goal of 30 new monthly donors by her 30th birthday at the beginning of August! We can't wait to share her results with you in August.
You can participate in our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign, too! Find something you love to end what you hate; that can be raising awareness and funds at your gardening club or other social group, by doing an online fundraising campaign like Elisa, challenging your friends to a cornhole competition, or just talking about the work we do at a summer barbeque and asking friends and family to donate.
It doesn't have to be big or elaborate—just passionate people working together. We'll provide all the materials you need to share our story. Join our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. Use your passions to make a difference:

Host a fundraising challenge or an event
Share awareness materials
Donate proceeded

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

"How will I use my freedom to give freedom?"

So many of you have made a choice to support Thrive's work giving freedom and a future to our survivors, through vital, comprehensive, life-changing mentorship and care.

However, we're at a crossroads. As needs and referrals increase, we urgently need to hire more staff. This comes at a time when non-profit funding is shrinking, putting more pressure on organizations like ours.

Simply put, we need you more than ever!

We're asking you to Fundraise for Freedom. Whether you love running like our board member Mariah, who is challenging friends to support each of her miles, or you're organizing a pickleball tournament or planning a yard sale to benefit our mission, every effort impacts the life of a survivor. Consider hosting a neighborhood cornhole tournament, a family barbecue, or simply gathering friends to share Thrive's mission.

It doesn't have to be big or elaborate—just passionate people working together. We'll provide all the materials you need to share our story. Join our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. Use your passions to make a difference:

Host a fundraising challenge or an event
Share awareness materials
Donate proceeds

Let's use our freedom to give freedom!

Email us for more information at info@thrivenewengland.org.

At Thrive New England, freedom means more than just escaping trafficking. Freedom means physical, mental, emotional, and relational health. Our intense mentorship and wrap-around care help survivors grasp hold to the freedom they have been denied through exploitation and trafficking. Learn more at www.thrivenewengland.org

This month, we are celebrating freedom and talking about how we can Use our Freedom to Give Them Theirs. What does freedom mean to you?

Summer is here and with it, barbeques, pool dates, and vacations. But it's not a day at the beach for everyone. For survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking , change of seasons can cause past trauma to resurface. Thrive is there to support them through all these challenging seasons. Learn more at www.thrivenewengland.org

Thrive's Restorative Care Program for teens and Survivor Leadership Program for adults provides purposeful, wrap-around care and mentorship for individuals who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking here in New England. Our unique method of supporting survivors is effective and 92% of our graduates are living free and independently.
www.thrivenewengland.org

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}