A Passion for Child Safety
Do you feel your heart sink everytime a child sexual abuse case hits the headlines?
Does it anger you to know that someone intentionally hurt an innocent child in such a way?
Many emotions and thoughts run through your head as you try to understand the story. The horror and fear becomes paralyzing as you think about the welfare of your own child, nieces/nephews or even the neighborhood children. You wonder, how you can protect them from becoming a victim of sexual abuse? You’re not alone, the truth is I feel the exact same way. Children are being exploited in so many different ways and at an alarming rate. Everyday there’s a new report of a child being hurt by family members, friends and other sexual predators.
Did you know that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday?
Sexual predators are typically not strangers lurking in the dark. Oftentimes, the abuser is already part of the child’s life, such as a coach, teacher, church leader or a family member. 90% of children, who are victims of sexual abuse, know their abuser!
Approximately 90% of child sexual abuse incidences go unreported to law enforcement. This silence allows sexual abuse to be a never ending cycle. It poses a serious threat to our children and their psychosocial well being even as they become adults.
You have the Power
There is so much information that the general public does not know concerning child sexual abuse and the negative impact it has on its victims. Just imagine if you had the power to stop child abuse, you would drastically change the trajectory of a child’s life forever. You would allow children to be able to grow into emotionally healthy adults and have positive, thriving relationships with others. Whether you are a parent, an authority figure or just a good citizen who wants to protect our youth, you have the power to stop child sexual abuse and protect the innocence of our children!
Who Am I And Why Should You Listen?
I am a mother of 2, a wife and a Physician Assistant who has a passion for protecting kids and keeping them healthy. I have been practicing as a Physician Assistant for 13 years and through this time I have had the opportunity to work in many fields. After working half of my career in the traditional urgent care setting, I transitioned into the pediatric urgent care specialty. During this time I met many families from all different places, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. When dealing with suspected child abuse cases, I learned that sexual abuse affects all races, genders, and cultures. It was clear that a child’s life would be forever changed due to another’s evil actions. After attending a child sexual abuse class, I realized that many adults and medical professionals, such as myself, did not know the signs of child abuse. As a result of this ignorance, child sex abuse continues to run rampant and negatively affect the lives of those that are so precious to us.
Now as a mother of 2 girls, I pledge to do all
that I can to keep them from becoming victims of child sexual abuse. As a medical
professional, I have a legal responsibility to
report any known acts of violence towards a
child. I have accepted that responsibility and I’m willing to advocate for the safety of ALL children. They have a right to live in a safe and loving environment no matter their ethnicity or socioeconomic background. I want to empower others to join in the fight of protecting our children from sexual abuse that’s why I created this ebook.
Introducing:
“ Your Child, Safe from Secrets: How to Protect Kids From Sexual Abuse and Manage the Aftermath”
This e-book was written to help anyone ( parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, etc.)
recognize the signs and prevent child sexual abuse. It will provide direction on how to have open communication with your child using age-appropriate terms concerning their bodies, knowing appropriate boundaries, inappropriate and appropriate touching. You will be able to empower your child to recognize strange behaviors of others and have the confidence to tell a trusted adult when anyone violates these boundaries.
The topics covered in this book include:
- The characteristics of a sexual predator
- Teaching your child the right words to describe their body parts beginning as young as one year old
- Appropriate and inappropriate boundaries
- Ways your child may be connecting with a predator
- Social media and Apps that are high risk for kids
- Statistics on the number of children affected by child sexual abuse
- Risky decisions parents make that creates opportunity for sex abuse
- The most common places and times a predator strikes
- The appropriate response to finding out that your child has been sexually abused
- Reporting sexual abuse to the appropriate entities
- What to do if your child is abused by a family member
- The act of reporting and what to expect afterwards
- Solutions to help heal the hurt after reporting
- How to help your child to have a productive life after surviving sexual abuse
- Myths and Facts about child sexual abuse
- List of child advocacy resources
Make a Difference
Maybe you know a child who has been a victim of sexual abuse or maybe you were once that
child who was abused. Just imagine if you had the power to stop child sexual abuse, you could
save the innocence of many children. Well, I’m here to tell you that YOU DO have that power!
Child sexual abuse is preventable and we all have the power and responsibility to protect our
precious children. Whether you are a parent or not, you can help bring awareness to the issue
and be prepared to act in preventing another child from becoming a victim. This ebook will give
you the necessary information for you to take part in this movement and make a difference!
FAQ
Is this book for parents only ?
Absolutely not! This book is for anyone who knows a child or works with children. Whether you
are Parent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, church member, church leader, teacher, Grandparent,
neighbor, etc. Whatever your relationship is with a child you have the power to help prevent
child abuse.
How do I get involved with helping to Prevent Child sexual abuse?
There are regional, state and national level child advocacy organizations actively fighting to end
child sexual abuse and maltreatment. Many of these organizations seek volunteers to help with
community outreach and education concerning child safety. The Child Advocacy Resource page
within the ebook will help you in finding an organization whose purpose aligns best with yours.
What if I was a Child Sexual Abuse Victim, is this book for me?
Yes, it is! Because of your experience, you are better equipped to recognize the signs and be
able to prevent this act from happening to another child. You will be able to guide a child victim
down the right path to tell someone and get the help that he/she needs to begin the healing
process.
