Kristi House
Kristi House is a nationally accredited nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Center dedicated to treating and preventing child sexual abuse, trafficking, and other childhood trauma throughout Miami-Dade County. They coordinate a multidisciplinary response that brings together medical, legal, social service, and law enforcement partners to ensure that child victims and their families receive comprehensive, trauma-informed care and support at no cost.
Their work includes advocacy, evidence-based therapy to promote long-term healing, prevention education to keep children safe, and specialized programs like Project GOLD, Florida’s first drop-in center for sexually exploited youth. Through these services and community collaboration, Kristi House supports children and families as they navigate complex systems and recover from abuse and exploitation.
“With compassion and determination, we provide therapy at no cost, advocate for children, and pursue justice with our partners.”
Project GOLD
Kristi House is one of the first CACs in the country to address the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), otherwise known as child sex trafficking. Kristi House established Project GOLD, the first drop-in center for CSEC in Florida, with specialized services for sex trafficked youth.
Project GOLD brought the legal and provider community together around the issue of child sex trafficking in 2007, and has been a leader nationally on the issue. The center uses a strengths-based approach, guided by those with lived-experience to provide health, social and legal services linkages, mental health support and educational enrichment for sexually exploited youth and young adults.
Project GOLD encourages members to actively engage in services and participate in a wide array of group programs offered. Specialists help members to identify, progress and meet their individualized goals, providing support and incentives for achievements.
Project GOLD has been shaped and guided by those with lived experience, reflected in the name created by founding members: Project GOLD = Girls Owning their Lives and Dreams. In 2024, it became Girls & Guys Owning their Lives & Dreams, reflecting expansion to serve boys and young men.