Why is prevention important?
This says it all. From the Ace Study web site. “The ACE Study reveals a powerful relationship between our emotional experiences as children and our physical and mental health as adults, as well as the major causes of adult mortality in the United States. It documents the conversion of traumatic emotional experiences in childhood into organic disease later in life. How does this happen, this reverse alchemy, turning the gold of a newborn infant into the lead of a depressed, diseased adult? The Study makes it clear that time does not heal some of the adverse experiences we found so common in the childhoods of a large population of middle-aged, middle class Americans. One does not ‘just get over’ some things, not even fifty years later(3).”(4) www.Acestudy.org
Listening to Dr. Felitti present the Ace study was an experience that I will never forget. Learning about the Ace study made me realize that I had to get very serious about taking good care of myself, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. It made me realize that even though I could not put my finger on the effects the abuse had had on my health, I have to prevent the possible effects of it. Please visit the Ace study web site and learn more about it.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention starts by getting to know the facts. Here are just a few.
- 1 out of every 4 girls and 1 out of every 6 boys is abused sexually before the age of 18 (darkness2light.org).
- 93% of all victims know their abusers (darkness2light.org)
- Only 29% of parents ever mentioned or discussed sexual abuse with their children (Darkness2light.org).
- Victims of sexual violence face both immediate and long-term psychological consequences (Ackard and Neumark-Sztainer 2002; Faravelli et al. 2004; Felitti et al. 1998; Krakow et al. 2002; Ystgaard et al. 2004). http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm
Understanding Child Sexual abuse please visit this link at the American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/releases/sexabuse/homepage.html
If you would like to become educated about what you can do to prevent child sexual abuse, I highly recommend the following:
Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and motivates them to courageous action. The Stewards of Children program is designed for organizations and corporations that serve children and youth. I have enjoyed the privilege of providing this program to adults in Iceland since 2004 and since 2006 in San Diego.
If your organization or business is looking for a presentation on the issue of child sexual abuse and prevention, I recommend you visit TAALK and see the prevention education available there.
I can also provide the following presentations/trainings:
1. Child sexual abuse awareness and prevention. 1-2 hr presentation.
2. Child Safety and abuse awareness. The importance of making abuse awareness a part of your on going family discussion and a part of your family safety plan. 1.5 hr presentation.
3. Darkness to Light Stewards of Children 3 hr prevention training.
4. Darkness to Light Stewards of Children facilitator training. 1 day training.
5. The healing journey and a survivor testimony. I will share the books and tools I have learned to use over the last 16 years in recovery from child sexual abuse. Love is the Lesson! 1-2 hr interactive presentation. This presentation can also be given as a keynote address.
6. Teen Talk. Interactive presentation for teenagers about child sexual abuse and the importance of finding a trusting adult to tell. Healthy relationships, boundaries and respect for self and others is discussed.
For more information, bio or outline of presentation please email svavabb@gmail.com.
