Advisory Board Position

Adagio • Falcon, CO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Advisory Board Member, who is a Survivor Leader / Lived Experience Expert, serves as a vital member of the Sarah's Home Advisory Board. This role brings essential expertise, perspective, and leadership grounded in personal experience with commercial sexual exploitation and recovery. As an Advisory Board member, this role provides governance oversight of Sarah's Home program operations, participates in policy review, and ensures that services remain trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and responsive to the needs of the girls served. This is a paid advisory position with compensation for time, expertise, and service. This role serves alongside other Advisory Board members including an HR professional and a clinical expert. Advisory Board Members support the mission and strategic direction of Adagio while helping ensure high-quality care, regulatory compliance, and organizational sustainability for the Residential Child Care Facility (RCCF). The Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity only and does not hold governing or decision-making authority. Advisory Board members meet with the Program Director and provide recommendations, insight, and strategic guidance to the Program Director, who will ultimately gain approval from the Executive Director to make large changes. The Executive Director retains final authority over organizational and operational decisions.

Requirements

• Personal lived experience with commercial sexual exploitation or sex trafficking
• Minimum 5 years since exiting exploitation to allow for personal healing and perspective
• Capacity to discuss lived experience in governance context without personal distress or re-traumatization
• Willingness to be transparent about lived experience within confidential Board setting

Nice To Haves

• 5+ years since exiting exploitation with established life stability
• Previous survivor leadership, advocacy, or advisory experience
• Experience with adolescent survivors or residential treatment settings

Responsibilities

• Attend bi-monthly Advisory Board meetings (approximately 1.5-2 hours each, scheduled in advance)
• Review meeting materials in advance and come prepared to engage in discussions
• Participate actively in Advisory Board discussions, asking questions and offering perspective
• Serve on Advisory Board committees or workgroups as interested and able (optional)
• Share perspective on how proposed policies, procedures, or practices might impact residents based on lived experience
• Identify potential trauma triggers, barriers to healing, or unintended consequences in program design
• Provide feedback on services
• Help evaluate program effectiveness from a survivor-centered lens
• Offer insight into the realities of commercial sexual exploitation that may not be captured in professional literature
• Challenge assumptions or practices that may be well-intentioned but ultimately harmful
• Review and approve policies ensuring they are trauma-informed and survivor-centered
• Provide oversight of program quality, outcomes, and fidelity to mission
• Monitor that program remains true to trauma-informed, survivor-centered values
• Ensure compliance with RCCF licensing requirements and best practices
• Contribute to strategic planning and program development with survivor-centered lens
• Advocate for survivors' needs, rights, and dignity in all Advisory Board discussions and decisions
• Help shape organizational culture to be empowering
• Identify gaps in services or barriers to effective care
• Ensure language, messaging, and communication honor survivor dignity
• Recommend best practices from survivor leadership networks and movements
• Connect Sarah's Home to broader survivor leadership networks and movements
• Share resources, research, or best practices from survivor-led organizations
• Help identify opportunities for survivor engagement and leadership within the organization
• Optional: Participate in community events or speaking opportunities representing the Advisory Board (not required)
• Maintain confidentiality of all Advisory Board discussions, resident information, and organizational matters
• Honor professional boundaries - this is a governance role, not a direct service or peer mentoring role
• Avoid dual relationships with current residents (no direct contact unless approved by leadership)
• Recuse from discussions involving anyone you know personally or have prior relationship with
• Practice self-care and set boundaries to prevent secondary trauma or re-traumatization

Benefits

• Paid Advisory Board Member
• Compensation for time, expertise, and service
• Additional compensation for any extra consulting, training, or speaking engagements (negotiated separately)
• Flexible meeting formats (in-person, virtual, or hybrid)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed