Mosaic Family Services Provides a New Beginning for Some
By Sofia Garcia, 11th grader, Ursuline Academy of Dallas
After enduring physical and emotional trauma from abusers, women and their children from around the world seek shelter at Mosaic Family Services.
Mosaic Family Services is the only agency in North Texas that serves as a safe haven for both survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence with a global reach.
Each year, about 25,000 victims from across North Texas and the world turn to the agency’s shelter that focuses on a multicultural outreach with volunteers and a staff that speaks 31 languages.
“We are dedicated to serving survivors of human rights abuses from around the world and within our community,” said Nancy Rocha, the shelter director.
Nearly 4.8 million women in the U.S. suffer physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research conducted by Ark of Hope for Children shows that up to 300,000 Americans under the age of 18 are lured into the commercial sex trade every year.
Mosaic Family Services was started by Walter Nguyen, a Vietnamese refugee, in 1993. He wanted to meet the growing need to support the diverse cultural diversity of those in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
But he soon saw a need for his agency to take on much more.
By 2001, the agency incorporated a service for victims of human trafficking that has since expanded in addition to a service that assists survivors of domestic violence that began in 1997.
Mosaic works to educate and empower individuals facing these issues through case management, counseling, legal assistance and shelter.
Among its services, the agency runs a domestic violence and human trafficking hotline answered by employees 24 hours a day.
Rocha said Mosaic gets about 85–120 calls a month.
Rocha manages client interaction and necessities with the help of her fellow staff members.
Alternating shifts of employees maintain the services of clients 24 hours a day with help from volunteers and donating companies.
Staffers want to help “someone rise from the lowest point of their life back to feeling alive again,” Rocha said.
Once out of harm’s way, the survivors receive clothing, bathroom products, food and other supplies. Any assistance in the legal process is available through case managers and lawyers associated with Mosaic House. The staff also assists in court cases by advocating for their clients and maintaining support throughout their trials.
Mosaic’s reach is global taking on cases from the FBI and other agencies.
Rocha said that the shelter is more than just a “bed” for these victims; Mosaic is like a new beginning.
“We don’t look at how many nights a client stays here,” Rocha said. “We look at how much progress a client has made. … I always like to tell clients to not be afraid to share their story because one day, their story may save someone else’s life.”
How to help
To provide financial support to Mosaic Family Services in its mission to assist victims of human trafficking and abuse, visit https://www.classy.org/checkout/donation?eid=87664.
