Advisory Board Position

                                               Adagio Home Advisory Board Member 
POSITION TITLE: Advisory Board Member 
BOARD: Adagio Home Advisory Board 
REPORTS TO: Advisory Board Chair 
POSITION TYPE: Paid Advisory Board Member with Lived Experience in Sexual Exploitation 
TERM: One-year term, renewable 
TIME COMMITMENT: About 3-5 hours per month ($30 per hour) 

POSITION SUMMARY 
The Advisory Board Member who is a Survivor Leader / Lived Experience Expert serves as a vital 
member of the Sarah's Home Advisory Board, bringing 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 we serve.  
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.  

RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS 
ADVISORY BOARD PARTICIPATION 
• 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) 
LIVED EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE & PERSPECTIVE 
• 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 

POLICY & PROGRAM OVERSIGHT 
• 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 

STRATEGIC INPUT & ADVOCACY 
• 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 
COMMUNITY CONNECTION & REPRESENTATION 
• 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) 
CONFIDENTIALITY & PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES 
• 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 
REPORTING STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE 
This position reports to the Executive Director for all matters related to Advisory Board service, 
participation, and responsibilities. The Advisory Board operates under the authority of Adagio's Board 
of Directors, which maintains ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the organization. This includes: 
● Approval of Advisory Board compensation and budget 
● Final authority on organizational policies and major decisions 
● Oversight of Executive Director who supervises all program operations 
● Review and approval of Advisory Board recommendations 
In practice, this means: 
● Day-to-day: Work with fellow Advisory Board members 
● Major decisions: Advisory Board makes recommendations to Executive Director who 
presents them to the Board of Directors as applicable  
● Annual reporting: Present program updates to Executive Director 
This two-tiered governance structure ensures both specialized Sarah’s Home program oversight 
(Advisory Board) and organizational governance (Board of Directors). 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPECTATIONS 
LIVED EXPERIENCE & RECOVERY 
Required: 
• 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 
Preferred: 
• 5+ years since exiting exploitation with established life stability 
• Previous survivor leadership, advocacy, or advisory experience 
• Experience with adolescent survivors or residential treatment settings 

WHAT WE OFFER 
COMPENSATION & SUPPORT 
• Additional compensation for any extra consulting, training, or speaking engagements 
(negotiated separately) 
• Flexible meeting formats (in-person, virtual, or hybrid) 

TIME COMMITMENT 
• Bi-monthly Advisory Board meetings: 1.5-2 hours per meeting  
• Meeting preparation: 1-2 hours per quarter reviewing materials (4-8 hours/year) 
• Optional committee work: 2-4 hours per quarter if you choose to serve on committees 
Note: Meetings are scheduled well in advance to allow for planning. We work with your schedule and availability. 

TERM & STRUCTURE 
• Initial term: One year with option to renew for additional two-year terms 
• May resign at any time with a preference of 30 days notice 
• First 6 months considered mutual trial period to ensure good fit 
• Position may be held simultaneously with other board service or employment