Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) has served as the nation’s leading organization for empowering commercially sexually exploited and domestically trafficked girls and young women. Through cultural change, advocacy, training, and survivor leadership, GEMS is committed to shifting public perception and policy.  

As New York State’s first—and only—organization designed to provide trauma-informed, strengths-based services, GEMS has served thousands of young women and girls, ages 12–29. Founded in 1998, GEMS’ ground-breaking, award-winning work supports survivors in gaining independence, safety, education, employment, economic sustainability for themselves and their children. They provide services in education, youth development, transitional and supportive housing, survivor leadership and court advocacy.