Welcome home. We are here to help you rebuild your life.

There are a lot of words people will expect you to use to describe the emotions of being released after spending time in captivity. Excitement, relief, and joy are a few of the more obvious. However, in reality, these emotions are generally intermingled with feelings of guilt and exhaustion, coupled with an overwhelming sense of frustration. Things might not be as you remember them: your home, your family, your body and your mind have all changed, and finding your place in this new world can be challenging.

Hostage US is here to walk you through the process of identifying your new normal, finding peace with what has happened to you, and reconnecting with your loved ones.

Considerations upon Release

After your release, many people will want to help, learn from your experience, and share your story. It can be overwhelming and disorienting, especially when all you want is to move on. Hostage US will be by your side, helping you navigate challenges, find solutions, and providing steady, reliable support.

Find Your New Normal

You may want to jump back into your old life, assuming nothing has changed with family and friends, but much may have, making that difficult or even unwise. Having someone you trust to talk to is crucial, and Hostage US is here to support you through it all.

Long-term Recovery

Perhaps the best advice we can give is to take things slowly. You may be eager to return to work or family activities, but it’s okay to take a break and regain your strength. Give yourself that permission, and let Hostage US help with everyday tasks, so you can focus on getting stronger.

Decisions about Work

The decision of when, or even if, you should return to work is one that you might be confronted with fairly quickly. If you still have the position you had previously, you might need new accommodations to do your job. If you need to start looking for a new job, Hostage US can help you with your resume and interview skills.

FAQ’s for Hostages

Hostage US is here to help former hostages rebuild their lives, and although no two cases are ever the same, we know that getting back to “normal” can be a long, frustrating journey. Our team is ready to stand by your side and help you navigate the various challenges you will face. Whether you need mental health support, financial management assistance, media consultations, or any number of other services, we partner with pro bono service providers who can help get you back on your feet.

You can contact us through the Contact Us form, email us at [email protected], or call our intake line at 888-284-1010.

When contacting us, please be sure to provide the following information so that we can better serve you:

  1. Your nationality
  2. The country where you were held and the date that you returned to the US
  3. If a government agency assisted in your release and which one

Hostage US support is provided free of charge. We will never ask you for money and we will do what we can to find pro-bono partners to solve your most pressing issues.

Hostage US is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. While we collaborate with the US government to provide the best possible support to families and returning hostages, we operate separately and are not part of the government.

Confidentiality is at the core of what we do. We will never inform the US government about our contact with you unless you explicitly grant us permission. Additionally, we do not share any information you provide with the government. You can trust that everything you share with us will remain within our organization.

Hostage US never shares information about the families or former hostages we support unless you ask us to do so. We respect your need for privacy and will never reveal which families we are supporting, nor will we ever pass information you have given us to anyone outside the organization.

Confidentiality is the backbone of our work so that you can trust that anything you tell us will stay within the organization.

Hostage US is here for as long as you need us. We recognize that for some people, help may be needed immediately upon release, while for others, it may be months or even years before the need for support becomes apparent. It is never too late to get in touch.

Hostage US supports all returning hostages, regardless of whether their family accessed our support during the kidnapping. Don’t hesitate – get in touch.

Hostage US is here for all families and former hostages and our team will support each individual situation in the manner that best suits their particular needs. Most of the time we will assign a different team member to each family member to assure each individual is receiving the care that they need; however, if you would prefer to receive support together, we can do that too.

Hostage US is fully confidential and will never share information with anyone without your consent.

Search our Resource Library

The resource library contains practical information and articles aimed at helping families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and their loved ones when they are released.