My name is Helen Stiver, I am a survivor of Human Trafficking and sexual exploitation with a strong desire to utilize my strengths and experiences to advance the presence of survivor leadership in the anti-human trafficking sector and increase awareness of accessibility needs of survivors with disabilities.

My name is Helen Stiver, I am a survivor of Human Trafficking and sexual exploitation with a strong desire to utilize my strengths and experiences to advance the presence of survivor leadership in the anti-human trafficking sector and increase awareness of accessibility needs of survivors with disabilities. I am dedicated to incorporating a culturally sensitive and strength-based approach to the work I do, derived from skills and experiences acquired from my roles in both private and non-profit sectors. Earning a bachelor’s degree in human services from Columbia College of Missouri, launched a 20-year career in the nonprofit sector focused on disability accessibility. In 2024 I transitioned to my current full-time position as the North America Partner Coordinator at EverFree where my focus is developing and maintaining partnerships with organizations serving human trafficking survivors and vulnerable populations. 

As an independent consultant, I have served as a Technical Assistant (TA) subcontracted under the Federal Government Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) grant (SETTA). In this capacity I worked directly with agencies in the Human Trafficking sector assisting them in developing processes and procedures to expand their capacity and understanding of working with individuals with lived experience. Additional contract work includes the development and execution of webinar content and engagement activities on the intersections of Human Trafficking Victims with Disabilities and their access to housing for FNTI Housing Training and Technical Assistance Project funded by the Office of Justice Programs (Prime Contract). Current TA contracts include contributing to the implementation of the Survivor Reentry Project that is funded by the Office of Justice Programs (Prime Contract). Ongoing work includes Developing and providing trainings on best practices for disability accessibility including a customized version titled “Breaking Barriers: Addressing Disability & Human Trafficking of Young People” for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), to an audience comprised primarily of Department of Children and Family Services employees. I have served as a subject matter expert with lived experience in several media interviews, op-ed contributions, and podcasts.