Innovations HTC

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Innovations HTC Our mission is to empower survivors of human trafficking to heal and build self-sufficient, affirming lives.

💵 Financial abuse is domestic violence.Money can become a powerful tool of control.Financial abuse may look like prevent...
10/14/2026

💵 Financial abuse is domestic violence.

Money can become a powerful tool of control.
Financial abuse may look like preventing someone from working, taking their paycheck, withholding money for basic needs, damaging their credit, forcing debt into their name, monitoring every purchase, or denying access to bank accounts.
Financial control can also make leaving an abusive situation incredibly difficult.
Survivor safety isn't only about getting away from violence. Long-term safety can also require housing, transportation, employment, financial stability, and access to supportive services.
That's why comprehensive survivor services matter.

💜 A Packed Room. Powerful Conversations. Stronger Communities. 💜On October 9, 2026, the Innovations HTC team had the opp...
10/14/2026

💜 A Packed Room. Powerful Conversations. Stronger Communities. 💜

On October 9, 2026, the Innovations HTC team had the opportunity to attend and participate in the Thurston County Domestic Violence and S*xual Assault Response Summit—and what an incredible day of learning, collaboration, and connection!

The room was PACKED with passionate professionals, advocates, first responders, service providers, and community partners who share a common goal: creating safer communities and strengthening our collective response to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Throughout the day, we witnessed meaningful conversations, thoughtful questions, engaged attendees, and a genuine commitment to learning from one another.

Our very own Sean "Smitty" Smith also had the opportunity to share his knowledge and perspective, helping highlight the intersections of human trafficking, domestic violence, and the importance of coordinated, survivor-centered responses. 🎤💜

At Innovations, we know that no single organization can address these challenges alone. Effective survivor support requires strong partnerships, open communication, shared knowledge, and a willingness to work across systems.

🤝 Collaboration builds stronger responses.

📚 Education creates better-informed communities.

💜 Survivor-centered partnerships create pathways to safety and healing.

Seeing so many people come together, actively engage, and invest their time in improving services for survivors was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

A huge THANK YOU to the summit organizers, presenters, panelists, and everyone who participated and contributed to such a meaningful day!

As we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we're reminded that awareness is only the beginning. It's what we do with that awareness—how we collaborate, respond, advocate, and show up for survivors—that creates lasting change.

A packed room is encouraging. A community committed to action is powerful. 💜

Empowering survivors. Strengthening communities. Ending violence.

*xualAssaultAwareness

💜 Staff Spotlight: Samantha Gilbertson — Executive Director & Professional Office Hider 😂Every organization needs someon...
10/13/2026

💜 Staff Spotlight: Samantha Gilbertson — Executive Director & Professional Office Hider 😂

Every organization needs someone willing to stand confidently at the front of the room, command the microphone, and soak up the spotlight.

At Innovations HTC, that person is absolutely not Samantha. 😂

As our Executive Director, Samantha would much rather be behind the scenes—planning the event, developing the program, creating the materials, solving the problem, and then strategically disappearing into her office before anyone asks her to speak in front of a crowd.

If the office door is open, approach carefully. She may already be planning three events, writing a grant, redesigning something that was perfectly fine yesterday, answering 47 emails, and wondering how she ended up responsible for all of this. 💻☕

But behind the humor is someone with a tremendous heart for Innovations and the people we serve.

Samantha brings years of experience in behavioral health, substance use services, community engagement, crisis intervention, program development, and collaborative community response. Long before becoming Executive Director, she worked alongside Innovations through the MDT Group and Firefly and supported individuals and families navigating complicated treatment and service systems.

Her unofficial Innovations responsibilities include:
🎨 Turning “I have an idea…” into an entirely new project
🎉 Planning events and then questioning every life decision approximately 48 hours before they begin
🚪 Perfecting the art of being technically at work while hiding in her office
🎤 Finding Smitty whenever someone says, “We need a speaker”
💻 Having approximately 72 browser tabs open because apparently they're all important
💡 Randomly announcing a new idea that inevitably creates more work for everyone
💜 Caring deeply about the people behind every program, statistic, grant, and service

Samantha's leadership is grounded in a simple belief: every person's story matters.

Her professional experience, community involvement, and personal connection to this work shape her commitment to ensuring that survivors are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect—and that Innovations continues building programs that respond to what people actually need.

She may prefer working quietly behind the scenes, but her heart is woven into nearly everything Innovations does.

Samantha, thank you for your leadership, creativity, persistence, and commitment to making Innovations and our community stronger.

Now please return to your office. There are people gathering in the hallway, and we know that makes you nervous. 😂💜

🧡 Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day 🧡For Innovations HTC, Indigenous Peoples’ Day holds a special place in our history an...
10/12/2026

🧡 Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day 🧡

For Innovations HTC, Indigenous Peoples’ Day holds a special place in our history and in the work we continue today.

Innovations was founded with deep roots in Indigenous communities and a commitment to addressing human trafficking and violence impacting Native people. That commitment remains an important part of who we are. Through our standing Indigenous services, we continue to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed support to Indigenous survivors while working alongside Tribal communities, Native partners, elders, advocates, and families.

Today, we honor the sovereignty, cultures, traditions, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous peoples—past, present, and future.

We also recognize that honoring Indigenous communities requires more than acknowledgment. It means listening to Native voices, respecting Tribal sovereignty, supporting Indigenous-led solutions, confronting the disproportionate violence experienced by Native people, and ensuring survivors have access to services that respect their culture, identity, family, and community.

To the Indigenous survivors who have trusted us with their stories and healing journeys, and to the Tribal communities and partners who have welcomed us into their spaces: thank you. We are honored to walk alongside you.

🧡 Today we celebrate Indigenous strength.
🧡 We honor Indigenous voices.
🧡 We remember those who are missing or have been taken.
🧡 And we remain committed to a future where every Indigenous person can live safely, freely, and with dignity.

Empowering survivors. Strengthening communities. Ending violence.

🔎 Would you recognize the signs that a young person is being bullied?Not every child or teen will tell an adult what's h...
10/11/2026

🔎 Would you recognize the signs that a young person is being bullied?

Not every child or teen will tell an adult what's happening.

Changes may include avoiding school or activities, suddenly losing friends, unexplained injuries or damaged belongings, changes in sleep or eating, declining school performance, increased anxiety around phones or social media, or withdrawing from people they once enjoyed.

One change doesn't necessarily mean bullying is occurring—but changes in behavior can be an invitation to check in.

Try asking:
💬 “I've noticed you haven't seemed like yourself lately. Is there anything you want to talk about?”
Then listen.

🌎 International Day of the Girl | October 11 🌎Strong girls become powerful voices for change. 💜Today, Innovations HTC jo...
10/11/2026

🌎 International Day of the Girl | October 11 🌎

Strong girls become powerful voices for change. 💜

Today, Innovations HTC joins communities around the world in recognizing International Day of the Girl—a day to celebrate the strength, potential, leadership, and voices of girls while recognizing the barriers and violence that too many still face.

Every girl deserves the opportunity to grow up feeling:
💜 Safe in her home, school, relationships, and community
📚 Supported in pursuing education and her dreams
🗣️ Confident that her voice matters
🤝 Connected to trusted adults who will listen and believe her
🌱 Empowered to establish healthy boundaries and relationships
✨ Free to imagine a future of her own choosing

For Innovations HTC, this is also prevention work.

Young people who feel connected, supported, valued, and able to ask for help are better equipped to recognize unhealthy relationships and seek support when something doesn't feel right. Prevention means giving youth information, trusted connections, opportunities, and spaces where they know they belong.

It also means listening to young people instead of only talking to them.

Ask what they think.
Teach them that “no” is a complete sentence.
Respect their boundaries.
Celebrate their strengths beyond their appearance.
Teach them what healthy relationships look like.
Believe them when they ask for help.
And remind them that they never have to earn someone's respect, love, or kindness.

Today, we celebrate girls for exactly who they are—and for everything they have the potential to become. 🌎💜

Strong girls. Safe communities. Powerful futures.

💚 World Mental Health Day Mental health is part of survivor health.For survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence...
10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day
Mental health is part of survivor health.

For survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of trauma, healing isn't simply about getting out of an unsafe situation. The effects of trauma can continue long after the immediate danger has passed.

Healing can look different for everyone.
💚 Talking with a counselor
💚 Connecting with peer or survivor support
💚 Finding safety and stability
💚 Setting boundaries without feeling guilty
💚 Reconnecting with people you trust
💚 Taking time to rest
💚 Learning new ways to cope
💚 Asking for help when things feel too heavy
💚 Laughing again—and realizing it's okay to do so

At Innovations HTC, we believe mental health support should be trauma-informed, survivor-centered, culturally responsive, and rooted in choice. Survivors deserve space to heal at their own pace and in ways that make sense for them.

And sometimes healing isn't a giant breakthrough.

Sometimes it's getting out of bed.
Making the appointment.
Saying “no.”
Calling someone you trust.
Taking the afternoon off.
Or recognizing, “I need some help today.”

Those steps count, too. 🌿

On World Mental Health Day, we're reminding our community that taking care of your mental health isn't selfish—and asking for support is never something to be ashamed of.

Your mental health matters. Your story matters. And you deserve support. 💚

Post 5 — Healthy Relationships💜 What does a healthy relationship look like?Healthy relationships aren't about one person...
10/10/2026

Post 5 — Healthy Relationships
💜 What does a healthy relationship look like?

Healthy relationships aren't about one person having power over another.
They are built on respect, trust, communication, boundaries, consent, independence, accountability, and safety.
You should be able to spend time with friends and family.
You should have a voice in decisions that affect you.
You should be able to set boundaries.
You should be able to say no.
You should never have to live in fear of your partner's reaction.
Everyone deserves relationships where they feel respected, valued, and safe.

💜 Staff Spotlight: Mekenzie Strickland — Our Resident Sleeping Beauty 👑💤Every team has that one person who brings creati...
10/09/2026

💜 Staff Spotlight: Mekenzie Strickland — Our Resident Sleeping Beauty 👑💤
Every team has that one person who brings creativity, compassion, and heart to everything they do.

And then there’s Mekenzie, who does all of that… provided the road trip hasn’t exceeded her awake-time limit. 😂

As our S*x Trafficking Case Manager and House Manager for Healing Journey Home, Mekenzie plays an incredibly important role at Innovations HTC. She creates a safe, supportive environment where survivors are treated with dignity and respect while helping clients navigate resources, build life skills, overcome barriers, and work toward stability and independence.

She’s also one of the creative forces behind all things Innovations. Whether we need an idea, a design, an event brought to life, or someone willing to turn a half-formed thought into something amazing, chances are Mekenzie has had a hand in it.

Of course, every superhero has a weakness.
Mekenzie’s is apparently the back seat of a moving vehicle. 🚗💤

Her unofficial Innovations responsibilities include:
🎨 Being a creative mastermind behind our events, projects, and ideas
🏡 Bringing warmth, stability, and heart to Healing Journey Home
💜 Advocating fiercely for survivors and celebrating their successes
✨ Finding creative solutions when the rest of us are out of ideas
📱 Somehow always having her phone nearby
✌️ Being ready for a photo… most of the time
😴 Providing absolutely no assistance whatsoever in keeping the driver awake on road trips

All jokes aside, Mekenzie brings tremendous compassion to this work. She believes deeply in the resilience and potential of the people she serves and works hard to make sure survivors feel heard, valued, respected, and supported as they build the futures they choose for themselves.

Mekenzie, thank you for your creativity, your heart, your commitment to Healing Journey Home, and everything you bring to Innovations HTC.We appreciate you tremendously.

We just won't assign you first watch on the next road trip. 😂💜

*xTraffickingAdvocate

💜 WE WEAR PURPLE FOR A PURPOSE! 💜October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Small but Mighty crew at Innovati...
10/08/2026

💜 WE WEAR PURPLE FOR A PURPOSE! 💜

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Small but Mighty crew at Innovations HTC is proudly wearing purple to stand with survivors, honor those whose lives have been lost to domestic violence, and raise awareness about an issue that affects far too many individuals and families in our communities.

💜 Purple represents courage, survival, hope, and solidarity.

At Innovations, we know that domestic violence and human trafficking often intersect. We see firsthand how coercion, control, fear, and abuse can impact someone's safety, independence, and ability to move forward.

But we also see incredible strength, resilience, and determination.

Our team may be small (and getting everyone together for one picture without someone wandering off is an accomplishment all by itself 😂), but our commitment to survivors is anything but small!

We're wearing purple because:

💜 Everyone deserves relationships free from violence and fear.

💜 Survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported.

💜 Leaving an abusive relationship is not always simple or safe.

💜 Healing happens at each survivor's own pace.

💜 Awareness matters, but action and community support matter even more.

And while October gives us an opportunity to bring attention to domestic violence, our commitment to supporting survivors doesn't end when the month does.

So today, we're asking our community to join us. Wear purple. Start conversations. Challenge victim-blaming. Support survivors. And help create a community where safety, dignity, and respect are the expectation—not the exception.

From our Small but Mighty team to yours: Stand together. Speak up. Wear purple. End violence. 💜

Empowering survivors. Strengthening communities. Ending violence.

Address

4317 6th Avenue SE Suite 101
Lacey, WA
98503

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18332010940

Website

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