Christa Hayden is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

Before joining IJM headquarters in Washington, D.C., in 2009, Ms. Hayden served as the Director of Aftercare for IJM Cambodia from 2005 through 2008. In Cambodia, Ms. Hayden led a team of national social workers in providing crisis care and job placement coordination for trafficking survivors and developed strategic partnerships with aftercare specialists and community development agencies. Ms Hayden also acted as a professional resource for the aftercare community by developing training manuals, conducting research and training social workers in the skills needed to effectively care for victimized children.

In her current role, Ms. Hayden engages churches in the biblical call to justice. She speaks to congregations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, encouraging, equipping and mobilizing churches and communities to begin their own justice journeys with prayer, study and engagement in both local and international justice work.

Ms. Hayden holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in Political Science and African & African Diaspora Studies from Tulane University. Prior to her time in Cambodia, Christa served in refugee resettlement, youth psychiatric care, the U.S. Senate, and with Young Life’s Military Community Youth Ministries in Italy.

Ms. Hayden is based out of IJM’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.

Learn more about Christa’s work in the field here.