This October, Global Child Advocates' will provide onsite training for International Justice Mission (IJM) and the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to pilot GCA's Framework for Family Engagement (FFE) across the Philippines. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by Austin Ridge Bible Church, will equip government social workers and aftercare teams to build and empower safe families for survivors of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC).

Meet Jessa, IJM’s Family Engagement Specialist, a new role designed by GCA. Ashlee trained Jessa in 2024 and she has done an incredible job engaging families for survivors and creating system-wide buy-in. Jessa and Ashlee are working closely together to plan and develop the upcoming training in October 2025.

Since GCA's initial training in May 2024, 12 survivors have already been reunified with safe relatives through this initiative. Each reunification is a powerful testimony of what is possible: children once at risk of compounded trauma and lifelong vulnerabilities are now being embraced by family members who have been engaged, supported, and equipped to provide stable care.

Momentum is accelerating as government agencies and church partners are eagerly requesting training, and local social workers are already putting FFE tools into action to place children into safe families. The government’s enthusiasm signals a turning point: this approach is poised to reshape the future for thousands of vulnerable children across the Philippines.

Through this partnership, we are helping to fuel a movement that not only protects children but restores God’s design for family.

We would greatly appreciate your prayers:

Preparation: Please pray for wisdom and clarity in all the final preparations. Our team is meeting weekly to review every detail, and we ask for focus, efficiency, and thoroughness so that nothing is missed.
Safe Travel & Readiness: Participants will be flying in from across the Philippines to attend this training. Please pray for their safe travels, good rest, and open hearts and minds to fully absorb the tools and resources that will equip them to place children into safe, loving families.
Partner Buy-In: This training introduces a new approach for many in government and partner organizations. Thus far, it has been widely well received but please pray for openness, unity, and strong buy-in so that leaders will not only embrace these tools but also champion family-based care as the gold standard for protecting children.
Strength for Ashlee: GCA’s Director, Ashlee Heiligman, will fly to Manila on October 20th - just one day after GCA’s Annual Gala, Boots & Bling. Her flight lands at 6 am, and she begins teaching at 10 am. Please ask God to give her supernatural strength, focus, and endurance so she can faithfully pour out, equipping participants with the critical tools needed to restore families for survivors of OSEC.

Above all, please join us in praying that this training would be fruitful and that God’s heart for survivors and families would shine through every session.

Read more about how GCA is helping to expand Kinship Care and Foster Care through this partnership with IJM.

Restoring Families for Survivors in The Philippines