My Nonprofit Reviews
julie18
Review for SAGE PROJECT INC, San Francisco, CA, USA
Our agency, located in Sacramento, CA, attended a training SAGE offered, "A Trauma Informed Approach to Sexual Exploitation" in 2008. This training was informative and professional. Since 2008 our non-profit has visited SAGE several times to seek advise and consult in order to move our own non-profit forward. We are attempting to model our program after SAGE. All of our experiences with SAGE and their staff have been extremely beneficial, informative, and kind. SAGE has shared with our agency valuable lessons they have learned and strategies to move forward; their staff is well trained and has extended any assistance we needed to help us grow to into an excellent organization that has the capacity to grow and move forward. All the answers we received at the SAGE on-site training, and additional visits to their site, have proven to be valuable. I would recommend any agency that is interested in modeling their program after SAGE to take the time to go to their site and invest in their own organizational staff to be trained by this excellent agency. SAGE also does presentations to other cities, but in order to receive a comprehensive understanding of this program and how it works the training SAGE offers at their site is the way to go.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I’ve personally experienced the results of this organization during three pre-planned on-site visits. 1) A four-day training, 2) A three-hour consultation with Program Director and Administrative Staff, 3) A three-hour follow-up consultation with Program Staff to address specific issues such as: a) Funding sources, b) policies and procedures, c) intake process and forms, d) staff job descriptions, e) Acupuncture Program, f) John School, g) information on collaboration with other agencies.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
1) Offer an advanced training that is beyond “A Trauma Informed Approach To Sexual Exploitation” for other agency staff members who have advanced education and knowledge of prostitution/human trafficking. Our own non-profit has moved forward significantly and has maintained a drop-in center for women in Sacramento involved in prostitution. We are ready to move forward and work strategically towards the first time offender program. I would like to see a specific training, based solely on the first-time offender program that discusses issues such as: 1) How it begin, 2) Funding, 3) Problems along the way, 4) Who did they collaborate with? 5) Curriculum issues, 6) What have they learned along the way, the political issues, fundraising, etc. 2) An advanced level of this training with the presenters of their organization who have specific degrees or college education related to PTSD groups, legalities, mandated reporting issues with minors, difficult clients, culture competency, group content, how they were able to get the DA on board? etc.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Their professionalism and extensive knowledge, and their willingness to assist other agencies who want to learn from SAGE
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Very informative, kind, considerate, willing to help, educated, concerned and showed compassion.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Travel to other organizations for a week or two and mentor that organization to grow in knowledge and policies and procedures. Also, open their own shelter (residential treatment) that is directly attached to, and facilitated by SAGE.
Ways to make it better...
I came prepared with prior education concerning Human Trafficking and Sex-Trade issues in order to ask specific questions.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
The space; expansion is possible and may be needed one day. I think their youth component is a challenge simply because the youth population is a challenging group of girls.
One thing I'd also say is that...
SAGE has done wonderful work and has consistently achieved their goals. They are a living, breathing example that an idea that Norma had many years ago, beginning in her garage, grew to become a reality. They have taught us to "never give up" on our dream
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
