Monday, March 31, 2014

AWO Report Card - 2013

AWO is a program to help women and their children escape the darkness of the sex trafficking industry, namely street prostitution, dancing in strip clubs, and working in escort services and massage parlors. The program also offers women who have been arrested and served time for their involvement in the sex trafficking industry an opportunity for a new start. The goal is to help them by giving them a hand up, not a hand out. That is, opportunity to work hard to overcome the trauma, the emotional and physical abuse, and issues that often began in childhood, thus becoming capable of not only entering the workforce but keeping a job.
  • AWO received requests from 41 women and 11 children who were assisted in varying degrees in 2013.
  • AWO is basically a volunteer run program. We have 2.5 staff members and over 175 volunteers who:
    • Mentor
    • Provide meals for Growth Group and other events
    • Plan and carry out special events
    • Help with rides
    • Teach various classes
    • Serve on the prayer committee
    • Donate clothes
    • Organize the clothes closet
    • Help with childcare
    • Help with Broken Pieces-Mended Lives Work Project
    • Adopt women and children for our Christmas Angel Project
    • Provide entry level jobs
  • New community Partners were added through luncheons and planned meetings.
  • AWO held training sessions for 25 plus new volunteers.
  • AWO had 8 ladies complete Intensive Outreach Addiction and Life Skill Classes.
  • AWO added a computer lab with 5 student desktop computers, 1 teaching laptop, 1 projector, and two printers and Job Skill and Computer Training Classes began for AWO women.
  • Broken Pieces Mended Lives continued to grow and a stipend was given to the women as their crosses sold.
  • AWO had one graduate who was able to get her three children back and with AWO's recommendation qualified for a Habitat for Humanity House for her family.
  • AWO had one program participant who graduated from the University of Memphis' Nursing School with honors just prior to graduating from AWO.

AWO Report Card - 2010



The A Way Out Program
A Ministry of Citizens for Community Values, Inc.--Memphis
Carol Wiley, Director
  • AWO provides food, clothing, housing, counseling, medical, and dental services, job and life skill training, all at no cost to the women and children who participate in the program.
  • AWO's potential to house the women and children who come for help has been limited to a duplex which CCV rented as well as partnering with other agencies, until 2010, when AWO was given a house which was renovated to accommodate six additional women. 
  • 46 women seeking help to leave a life of prostitution, stripping, and repeated incarceration were assisted in varying degrees.
  • 8 women completed AWO's Intensive Outreach Life Skill and Addiction class phase of the program which runs for 17 weeks Monday through Friday, 9:00-12:15.
  • 3 women graduated with HopeWorks, an 11-week program for life and job skills, which partners with AWO.
  • 3 women are working on their GEDs, 2 are in college, and one is working on getting into cosmetology school to become a hairstylist. 
  • One woman's 11 year old son met his father for the first time in his life with the help of the AWO director, her counselor, and an attorney who volunteered her services.
  • AWO added a Celebrate Recovery Program, which is a faith-based recovery program led by an AWO graduate.
  • AWO is a volunteer-driven program with over 150 ladies mentoring, bringing meals, teaching IOP classes, praying, helping with transportation, and bringing clothes to the clothes closet in 2010. 

AWO Report Card - 2008

Overseen by Program Director Carol Wiley, CCV's A Way Out Program is the only program in Memphis whose purpose is to assist women to permanently leave the sex-for-sale industry, namely topless clubs and prostitution, and restore them and their children to a life of health and wholeness using a comprehensive individualized methodology.
  • AWO won the Acton Institute's 2008 Samaritan Award out of 312 organizations that applied. AWO was awarded $10,000 and was featured in World Magazine for the fourth time. 
  • AWO was honored by the Shelby County Commission with a resolution for its outreach to women desiring to leave the sexually oriented business and for winning the Samaritan Award. This was sponsored by Mike Carpenter.
  • AWO helped 43 women and their 17 children in varying degrees in 2008. AWO closed out the year with 9 women and 17 kids active in the program. In addition one grandchild was also helped.
  • Every woman applying for services was told about God's love and saving grace through Christ. 
  • AWO's Christmas Angel Project was a huge success with an increased number of volunteers. Nine women were able to see their 18 children's smiles on Christmas morning as they opened their gifts.
  • The number of volunteers in AWO serving on the Transportation Committee, the Food Committee, the Clothes Closet Committee, the Prayer Committee, the Christmas Angel Project, the Children's Ministry, leading group studies, ormentoring has grown from 183 to 225.
  • AWO had three interns during 2008 to help with various tasks.
  • All program participants attend weekly Bible study.
  • AWO added a 192 hour Intensive Outpatient Addiction and Life Skills Program to requirements for graduation. Classes include addiction groups and classes dealing with boundaries, sexual addiction, relapse prevention, 12 steps, shame, forgiveness, surviving childhood sexual abuse, parenting, and processing groups.
  • Each woman participated in individual counseling with a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.
  • All clients must pass random drug screens. 
  • One woman has graduated from Cosmetology College and is employed at a prestigious salon named Diva. She will graduate from AWO in 2009.
  • One woman is attending Northwest Mississippi Community College with the goal of becoming a nurse. She has made all A's.
  • Two of the newer women in the program are working on their GEDs.
  • Clothes were provided for the women and children through AWO's Clothes Closet.
  • AWO representatives were privileged to participate at the Mission Conferences and speak to Sunday school classes at Independent Presbyterian, Second Presbyterian, Bellevue Baptist, Kirby Woods Baptist, and Central Church.
  • CCV/AWO was recognized at Diversified Conveyors Inc.'s Missions Dinner.
  • Medical and dental care were provided for the women and children.
  • Partnering with other agencies continued to be a success with our long time partners and we added several Women's Ministries, professional caregivers, attorneys, etc.
  • The AWO DVD was used successfully at speaking engagements to raise funds and recruit volunteers.
  • Two women attended the 8 week Grief Seminar at Central Church.

AWO Report Card – 2007

Overseen by Program Director Carol Wiley, CCV's A Way Out Program is the only program in Memphis whose purpose is to assist women to permanently leave the sex-for-sale industry, namely topless clubs and prostitution, and restore them and their children to a life of health and wholeness using a comprehensive individualized methodology.
  • AWO was recognized for the third time by The Acton Institute as a Samaritan Award Winner. This year AWO placed 2nd out of over 300 applicants. AWO was awarded $1,000 and was featured in World Magazine for a third time.
  • AWO hired a part-time assistant director to work with the full-time program director.
  • AWO helped 37 women and their children in varying degrees in 2007. 14 women and their children were given extensive help. AWO closed out the year with 9 women and 18 kids active in the program.
  • Every woman applying for services was told about God's love and saving grace through Jesus Christ.
  • The number of volunteers in AWO has grown from to 183 serving on the Transportation Committee, the Clothes Closet Committee, the Prayer Committee, the Christmas Angel Project, the Children's Ministry, leading group studies, or mentoring. 
  • All program participants attend weekly Bible study and recovery classes.
  • Each woman participated in individual counseling with a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.
  • One of our women is a junior at Crichton College and is serving as an intern in AWO.
  • The woman that had just started Cosmetology College at the time of our last report is close to completion and will graduate in 2008.
  • One woman passed her GED with a high enough score to qualify for scholarship funds and plans to become a nurse. 
  • Two of the newer women in the program are working on their GEDs.
  • Clothes were provided for the women and children through AWO's clothes closet.
  • we have a Clothes Closet Committee Chair who manages the closet donations and makes sure the closet is stocked and organized. 
  • AWO Director Wiley and a program participant were featured on TBN's "Praise the Lord" Program.
  • AWO Director and CCV Executive Director were featured on TBN's "Our Town" Program.
  • AWO Director did a TV interview for the Library Channel which will air during January 2008.
  • AWO Director and one of the women were privileged to speak at the Women's Ministry Luncheon at Independent Presbyterian.
  • AWO Director and on eof the women were guest speakers at Central Church's Women's Ministry Dinner with 500 plus in attendance. 
  • AWO Director and one of the women shared at a large Bible study for young mothers at Second Presbyterian.
  • AWO representatives were privileged to participate at the Mission Conferences and speak to Sunday School classes at most of our sponsoring churches.
  • Medical and dental care were provided for the women and children.
  • A new DVD was completed about AWO for recruiting volunteers and fundraising efforts.
  • A mentor's husband who is a songwriter wrote a special song for the ministry entitled, "A Way Out".
  • We have 3 new mentors who are ready to be given a mentee.
  • AWO children attended a grief and recovery seminar, Growing Seasons.

AWO Report Card – 2006

Overseen by Program Director Carol Wiley, CCV's A Way Out Program is the only program in Memphis whose purpose is to assist women to permanently leave the sex-for-sale industry, namely topless clubs and prostitution, and restore them and their children to a life of health and wholeness using a comprehensive individualized methodology.

  • AWO recognized in 2005 and again in 2006 as a Samaritan Award Top Ten Winner. The Samaritan Award seeks to identify the most effective, privately funded charities in the United States, committed to helping individuals. 
  • AWO was able to help 61 women and their children in 2006.
  • Every woman seeking assistance was told about the love and saving grace of God through Jesus Christ.
  • The number of AWO total volunteers has grown to over 100. Eleven are mentors (trained to work with clients) and the others serve on an as needed basis for food, transportation assistance, etc.
  • All women attend weekly growth group meetings completing multiple Bible studies and life skills and 12 step classes.
  • Each woman attends weekly counseling with a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.
  • Two women enrolled at Crichton College. One transferred from Southwest after completing two years and one is attending college for the first time. The first time student made straight A's while carrying a rigorous class load, meeting her program requirements, and giving birth to her first child.
  • Once 50 year old is working to complete her GED and plans to work with the elderly. 
  • One woman enrolled at Tennessee College of Cosmetology.
  • One woman was transitioned out of a residential program into her own home and regained custody of her four children.
  • Two women completed AWO requirements and graduated.
  • One of our graduates now volunteers to teach the children on Tuesday evenings while their moms are in Growth Group. 
  • CCV moved to a larger office space for the AWO Program. We now have a children's room, a separate clothes closet, and a large meeting room in addition to our offices.
  • AWO received a wonderful down payment on our dream to have our own residential facility for the women and children. A couple in California read about us in World Magazine and donated $70,000 designated for the purchase of a house for AWO participants.
  • AWO's Clothes Closet helped both women and their children throughout the year.
  • Medical and dental care was provided for the women and children. 
  • Christmas 2006 was exciting as all the women in AWO received personal gifts and gifts to give their children.
  • Wiley and the women shared the AWO story and their personal testimonies in many venues in 2006.



Saturday, December 31, 2005

AWO Report Card – 2005

CCV “A Way Out” (AWO) Program

(Overseen by Carol Wiley, Director of Victim Assistance)

AWO is the ONLY program in Memphis whose purpose is to assist women to permanently leave the sex-for-sale industry, namely topless clubs and prostitution, and restore them and their children to a life of health and wholeness using a comprehensive individualized methodology.

  • AWO recognized as a 2005 Samaritan Award Top Ten Winner. The Samaritan Award seeks to identify the most effective, privately funded charities in the United States, committed to helping individuals.
  • CCV now has access to a duplex in a pleasant neighborhood to house the women on a short-term basis until we are able to secure more permanent accommodations.
  • We received requests from 37 women for assistance in 2005. Eleven women were active in the AWO program and they brought a total of 23 children who were also helped.
  • The number of AWO total volunteers has grown to over 60. Eleven of these are mentors (trained to work with the clients) and the others serve on an as needed basis for food, transportation assistance, etc.
  • All women attend weekly growth group meetings and completed the following studies: Hiding from Love, Living beyond Yourself, Fool Proofing your Life, The Twelve Steps, Forgiveness and Sexual Addiction.
  • Each women attended weekly counseling with a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.
  • One woman is near completion of her Associates Degree and plans to continue at a 4-year college.
  • Several women are working on their GED; AWO is paying their fees.
  • One woman regained custody of her two daughters; legal fees were provided by AWO.
  • One woman came to us pregnant thinking she wanted to give her baby up for adoption but is now the proud mother of a beautiful baby boy she is parenting with new found skills from the AWO program.
  • Medical and dental care was provided for the women and their children. Two of the teenage daughters are so proud of their much needed orthodontia provided by two generous dentists.
  • AWO Clothes Closet helped both women and their children throughout the year.
  • Christmas 2005 was exciting as all the women in the program received Santa gifts to give to their children as well as gifts for themselves.

  • Friday, December 31, 2004

    AWO Report Card – 2004

    CCV “A Way Out” (AWO) Program


  • 50 women and children were helped last year.
  • All women in the program attended weekly growth groups using these studies:
      Boundaries
      The Twelve Steps: A Spiritual Journey
      Jesus the One and Only
      Common Sense Parenting
  • Each woman attended weekly counseling with a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.
  • One woman began prerequisite classes at Southwest community College to enter a Radiology Technician Program.
  • One woman will complete her Associate Degree at Southwest this spring and plans to enter nursing school.
  • One woman now holds her first full-time job in years.
  • One woman has been employed with Wal-Mart now for 2 years and honored as Employee of the Month last year..
  • The AWO volunteer mentors were nominated for the Volunteer Center’s 2004 Spirit of Giving Award.
  • Long time volunteer mentor, Kay Montague, won the Hope Christian Community Foundation 2004 Christian Servant Leaders Award.
  • Several of the women in the program and their children were given their first ever birthday party by the AWO volunteers.
  • Medical and dental care was provided for the women and their children.
  • One woman’s teenage daughter is now receiving much needed braces thanks to a ministry partner.
  • The women receive “Santa” gifts to give their children and receive gifts for themselves through our “Christmas Angel” program.