Nonprofits across Santa Barbara County are essential to the well-being of our community, offering vital resources and uplifting families every day. Through Noozhawk’s Good for Santa Barbara County Nonprofit Section, we shine a light on these organizations and the leaders who bring their missions to life.
Our seasonal Giving Guide offers even more ways to support the causes that matter most.
In this edition, Noozhawk connected with Sally Cook, Development & Community Engagement Director at Olive Crest, to explore how the organization is changing lives, expanding care, and leading statewide innovation for trafficked girls.
Olive Crest
Question: What is the name of your nonprofit, and what is its mission?
Answer: Olive Crest; Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis… One Life at a Time.® Hope Refuge Campus in Santa Barbara has become one of California’s largest residential treatment programs exclusively serving sex-trafficked girls ages 12-18.
Q: How long has your organization been serving the community, and who founded it?
A: Olive Crest was founded in 1973 by Dr. Don and Lois Verleur.
Q: What motivated the creation of your nonprofit?
A: Hope Refuge Campus was born out of a deep response to the national crisis and shortage of treatment programs for child survivors of sex trafficking—the fastest-growing criminal industry in the United States.
With as many as 300,000 children being pulled into this tragedy each year, Chuck and Sally Cook felt called to create a place of safety and hope. A place where girls can begin to heal from deep trauma, experience unconditional love, and rediscover the beautiful futures that were meant for them.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded, and what are its biggest needs right now?
A: Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus receives government funding, but with the help of generous donors, Olive Crest is able to offer much more. The Hope Refuge Campus offers the highest level of care that a state-licensed facility can offer, which addresses the complex trauma of exploitive sexual abuse.
Through therapeutic and relational support, the goal is for each girl to heal from the trauma of their abuse, be a part of a strong, loving family, and get connected to a community of support that will help them forge a pathway to success.
Currently, our greatest need is to expand our capacity to serve more girls who are waiting for a safe place to heal. Every child who comes to Hope Refuge carries unimaginable pain and trauma and each one deserves the chance to experience safety, love, and restoration. To make that possible, we need to grow our team of dedicated staff who walk alongside these young survivors every day.
With additional funding, we can bring on more counselors, therapists, and case managers, each playing a vital role in helping the girls process their trauma, rebuild trust, and take steps toward a hopeful future. Every investment in staffing and resources directly translates into more girls receiving the individualized care and attention they need to heal and thrive.
Q: How do you allocate your funding to support your mission?
A: All funds raised for Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus go directly towards the needs and operating costs of the facility. This residential program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing hope, restoration, and resources for healing.
All needs that arise for the girls, including clothing, food, safe/secure housing, medical/dental services, and recreational activities are provided during their time in the program.
Hope Refuge also offers a comprehensive and nurturing education environment onsite which allows these girls to continue their education and reach their full academic potential in a comfortable setting, while continuing their treatment and recovery.
Q: What types of events or programs do you run to engage your community and raise funds?
A: Our community impact events are led by passionate volunteers who rally their friends and colleagues to shine a light on the realities of child trafficking and share the hope found in Olive Crest’s life-changing programs. These grassroots gatherings inspire awareness, compassion, and action throughout the community.
In addition, we regularly offer guided tours of our beautiful 200-acre Hope Refuge Campus, giving community members the opportunity to witness firsthand the healing environment and the powerful transformation taking place in the lives of survivors.
Our signature annual fundraiser, Hope Shines, will be held on May 3, 2026, uniting our community in an evening of inspiration and impact as we celebrate stories of restoration and raise vital support to help more girls find safety, healing, and hope.
Q: How is your team structured? Have there been any major changes in your operations since you started?
A: The Hope Refuge Campus team is structured to deliver one of the highest levels of trauma-informed residential care in the state. Our program provides 24/7 supervision and support, ensuring that every girl experiences safety, consistency, and compassion throughout her healing journey.
At the heart of our program are our dedicated direct care staff, who walk beside the girls each day, building trust and stability. Surrounding them is our comprehensive mental health team of licensed clinicians, rehabilitation specialists, and behavioral health professionals who provide individualized treatment plans designed to restore hope and resilience.
This integrated approach is guided by a highly experienced leadership team committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, accountability, and alignment with Olive Crest’s mission to transform lives.
A powerful new addition to our care model is the introduction of survivor-led support groups, facilitated weekly by a local survivor leader. These groups bring an authentic voice of hope and understanding, deepening trust and fostering meaningful peer connection within the healing process.
Q: How can people get involved with your nonprofit or volunteer?
A: Olive Crest believes that “Everyone Can Do Something…What’s Your Something?” Through various drives, community events, monetary donations, or volunteering your time, everyone has the power to make a difference in their community and have an impact on this under-served population. Volunteer opportunities could include hosting an art activity, mentoring, recreational opportunities, or music classes.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or how you can get involved, please contact Sally Cook, Director of Development and Community Engagement at sally-cook@olivecrest.org.
Q: What sets your nonprofit apart from similar organizations?
A: For over 51 years, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of 250,000 children and their families. Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is one of the only programs that services minor girls who have been sex trafficked. Most facilities are for women, 18 years or older in a safe, remote site.
Additionally, all staff are Trauma Informed trained, Commercially Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) trained, and hold a Bachelor’s Degree at the minimum.
Q: Can you share a fun fact or little-known detail about your nonprofit that would surprise people?
A: A little-known fact about the Hope Refuge Campus is that the property once welcomed a U.S. President and world leaders. President Ronald Reagan often landed Marine One right on these grounds, hosting dignitaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Oliver North, and Hubert Humphrey.
Today, this same land continues to be a place of great purpose and influence but in a far more meaningful way. Where leaders once gathered to shape history, young survivors now gather to heal, grow, and shape their futures. The transformation of this property to a sanctuary of hope is a beautiful reflection of what happens here every day—lives renewed, dreams restored, and futures reclaimed.
Q: Could you share a story or two about individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by your organization?
A: At just 15 years old, Mia had already endured more pain and hardship than most people experience in a lifetime and was caught up in a dangerous cycle of sexual exploitation. Recognizing that Mia needed a safe place to heal and rebuild, she was referred to Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus – a place where survivors can find safety, understanding, and the tools to move forward.
Upon arriving at Olive Crest, Mia was quiet and guarded. Years of abuse had left her feeling unworthy of trust or love, and she struggled to let others in. Her past had been filled with manipulation and fear, and she had developed tough defenses to protect herself. The staff at the Hope Refuge Campus could see her pain and knew that Mia’s journey would take time, patience, and unwavering support.
Mia was welcomed into a community that understood her struggles and met her with compassion. Slowly, she began trauma counseling and joined group therapy, where she realized she wasn’t alone. She connected with other girls who had been through similar experiences, and for the first time, Mia felt like she didn’t have to hide. She also resumed her education through on-site schooling and discovered a love for art, which became a powerful outlet for expressing her emotions.
In this supportive environment, Mia began to envision a different future for herself. She worked closely with her therapist to build healthier boundaries and gain a sense of self-worth. The staff helped her establish routines and goals, and each small step she took was celebrated.
Today, Mia is enrolled in a local high school, where she’s making friends and participating in school activities. She’s focused on her studies and dreams of going to college one day. With the support of Olive Crest, Mia is healing from her past and working toward a future she never thought possible. She now believes she deserves a life filled with safety, respect, and hope.
Q: How do you share your nonprofit’s impact and updates with the public?
A: We love keeping our community connected to the life-changing work happening through Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus. Through www.olivecrest.org/santa-barbara/, supporters can explore stories of transformation, learn about our programs, and subscribe via the website to receive inspiring email updates, behind-the-scenes highlights, event invitations, and our Annual Impact Report—all showing how lives are being restored every day.
Those who choose to give or join our Ambassadors of Hope annual giving program are more than donors—they become part of the Olive Crest family. Ambassadors receive regular, personalized updates about the impact of their investment and walk alongside us in bringing safety, healing, and hope to young survivors. Together, we are transforming futures—One Life at a Time.®
Q: What makes your organization trustworthy for donors, and are there other ways people can support your cause beyond donations?
A: For over 51 years, Olive Crest has been meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable children and families, becoming one of the leading providers of services for children and families in crisis. Established, proven, and respected, Olive Crest serves 5,000 children and families each day through the Western United States.
Year after year, our programs meet the highest national standards in delivering optimal services to the community and surpass national average for key outcomes, including Safety, Well-Being, Stability, and Permanence.
Olive Crest has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation since 2001; and received the California Nonprofit of the Year Award in 2019, by State Senator Richard D. Roth. Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is operating at the highest level of licensing provided by the state of California.
Q: Can you highlight one immediate goal and one long-term vision your nonprofit aims to achieve in the next year?
A: One short-term goal for Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus is renovate and upgrade the campus in order to service more young girls.
Long-term, it is the goal to establish a Transitional Housing program. Transitional Housing is a comprehensive program that will help these high-risk girls forge pathways to economic stability and self-sufficiency. This is available to girls who have graduated from Olive Crest’s Hope Refuge Campus and will include safe, affordable housing and supportive case management to help them achieve their life goals.
While a part of this program, girls will participate in at least 4 hours of Independent Living Skills (ILS) classes, which include areas of financial literary and budgeting, time management and healthy living, and workforce development training. The girls will be encouraged to continue their education, whether it be a GED, trade school, or community college/university.
Q: Is there anything important or unique about your nonprofit that we haven’t covered yet?
A: What makes Olive Crest truly unique is that we are leading a state-funded pilot in California to determine best practices for safe places for sex-trafficked minors. This pioneering work spans drop-in centers, residential care, foster homes, and rapid response teams, creating a comprehensive continuum of support for this underserved population.
Olive Crest is not only providing direct, life-changing care to survivors but also developing and modeling evidence-based practices that can be replicated across the state and beyond. Our work ensures that every intervention, from immediate crisis response to long-term residential care, is informed by compassion and a commitment to helping these young people reclaim their futures.
Click here to support Olive Crest’s mission, programs, and community partnerships powering transformational change.
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