About Us
The Underground NE is a faith-based non-profit organization that exists to eradicate human trafficking in Connecticut and beyond through awareness, prevention, and intentional survivor support.
We serve every survivor without discrimination
Our Story
We began on the Berlin Turnpike in August 2012; a small group praying for God to set the victims free. A group of church leaders, a survivor and allies, we came together to build a community united against human trafficking.
Since 2012 we worked closely with state agencies, the Trafficking in Persons Council, and other stakeholders in Connecticut to identify gaps in state resources, educate our community on the realities of human trafficking, and bridge churches and communities to the anti-trafficking movement.
By 2017, the biggest gap became clear, adult survivors in CT needed far more services. In response, UGNE brought together a team of survivors, clinicians, and advocates to research best practices across the country for serving adult survivors. In 2022 we piloted what is now a comprehensive peer support and case management system, the Adult Mentor Program (AMP!).
Through AMP!, the sole provider of peer support services in CT, survivors across the state access intensive case management, healthcare, financial assistance, and much more. Participants in our ongoing awareness and prevention efforts include municipal bodies, law enforcement, medical providers and institutions, churches, and schools.
In 2025 we co-founded AHTSN, Adult Human Trafficking Synergy Network, a tight-knit state-wide network of service providers and advocates for adult victims and survivors of human trafficking.
Today, we still stand on the Berlin Turnpike; but our little group has grown into a state-wide community paving a path to freedom for every victim of human trafficking. Will you join us?
"To feel safe and knowing my life is changing for the better not worse is so amazing. I can't thank you all enough.”
The Underground NE Client
About Our Organization
- To provide intentional survivor support that will pave a pathway to freedom and wholeness for survivors
- To educate and sensitize our communities through awareness events and prevention strategies
- To engage community partners for a unified approach to the eradication of human trafficking in Connecticut
- To transform a culture of human trafficking and exploitation through the healing love of Christ Jesus
- We are a community that is committed to survivor leadership in the anti-trafficking movement; we intentionally hire survivors, center survivor voices in decisions, and pay survivors living wages.
- We are a place where every survivor is welcomed regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, etc…
- We are a program that partners with clients and adapts to the unique needs of each individual survivor.
- We are a team that seeks to glorify God in all that we say and do, especially by offering a path to freedom from exploitation for every victim of human trafficking. We do not proselytize or require clients to participate in any religious activities.
- We are a community that strives to be the heart, the hands, and the feet of Jesus by meeting the mental, physical, and emotional needs of men and women who have been traumatized by human trafficking.
- We are people of integrity and honesty as demonstrated in our actions and our words.
- Comprehensive holistic services to adult survivors of human trafficking across the entire state of Connecticut. Our peer mentors provide intensive case management, housing navigation, recovery coaching, psycho-education, life skill coaching, financial assistance, and more. Through our partners, AMP! provides trauma-informed primary healthcare and trauma therapy to enrolled clients.
- Free awareness events for a wide range of communities; attendees gain a deeper understanding of human trafficking and learn how to identify and support at-risk individuals.
- In-person and virtual paid trainings for medical professionals, non-profits, businesses, and other groups interested in training their staff on human trafficking.
The staff and board at the Underground New England are united by a shared commitment to living out the commands of Christ by being his hands and feet to those in need. Our founding Scripture is Isaiah 61:1-4; a clarion call to bring justice to those in bondage, a moving description of God’s love and compassion for those who suffer. The Underground NE holds steadfast to these beliefs:
- We believe that there is only one Savior and only one gospel – Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God who gave Himself as the only ransom for sinners. There is no other name by which we must be saved.
- We believe that God is both the Creator and the Judge of all. We therefore share His compassion and His concern for justice and reconciliation and for the liberation of humankind from every kind of oppression and exploitation. We believe in our calling and purpose to restore God-ordained value to human life that has been exploited.
- We believe that because humankind is made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, color, culture, religion, national origin, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age, has an intrinsic dignity because of which he or she should be respected and served, not exploited.
- We believe God has called us to be His agent of love:
- to bring the good news of healing, restoration and peace to the poor and the afflicted, to mend and heal broken hearts and broken lives, and make them whole again;
- to care for those who mourn the loss of their childhood and the years that have been stolen from them, to replace their mourning with blessings and their despair with hope, to raise them from the ashes to stand as beautiful oak trees in the garden of the Lord.
- to raise transformed and empowered change agents who, having experienced His love and His power, will bring the good news of healing, restoration and peace to others who are afflicted.
UGNE does not require clients to affirm these beliefs or participate in religious activities.
"How caring and compassionate you guys are helps me feel comfortable going out in the world, knowing I'm not alone."
The Underground NE Client
About Our Care Model
Day 1 – Day 30: Exiting Exploitation
Mentor and mentee meet at least two to three times per week.
Triage to assess for trafficking and introduce AMP
Food, clothing, short-term housing
Medical care
Phone, transportation
Referral assessment
Church-care liaison
Day 30 – Day 180: Enrollment in AMP
Intentional mentor/mentee hours maintained weekly
Short-term housing
Assist with financial request
Begins plans for long-term housing
Training and retooling
Bridge to case management
First wellness assessment
Community building
Day 180 and onwards:
Intentional mentor/mentee hours maintained two to four times per month.
Has a 1 – 3 year plan for establishing stable income and independent housing
Stable short-term housing
Enrolled in RAISE UP* or another housing program.
Rewriting internal narratives
Continued Phase 2 supports and Community building
Completed at least three of four Phase 2 completion metrics
Maintains regular contact with Mentor
As mentees progress to full independent living, AMP is still available to men and women when needed. Our commitment to our mentees:
Intentional mentor/mentee hours 2 to 3 times per year
Lifelong relationship full access to our community and services
Continued supportive relationship with Mentors indefinitely
‘Graduation’ celebration of achieving independence
*RAISE UP is UGNE’s incredible in-house financial support program unique to AMP, designed to assist mentees towards the goal of stable and affordable housing.
"What I really like about it is that my mentor relates to me, but has boundaries and doesn’t judge me at all. She’s one of the only true peers I feel like I’ve had."
The Underground NE Client
Our Leadership
Nadine A. Thomas, PhD
Executive Director
Amy Hayashida
Director of Programs & Operations
Our Board of Directors
Yvette Monica Young
Board Chair