S.T.O.P.! Speak up and Tell On Predators....... was created to bring awareness, prevention education and empowerment to my community and others it may reach, in the form of brochures and special events.
I designed a brochure for parents that include a description of my program, local and national resources, as well as statistics and safety tips. By making resources available to people in my community, they are now equipped with information to start the healing process should they or a family member be a victim of sexual abuse. My brochure also provides information for proactive parents and members of the community by including preventive information both locally and nationally via website address and phone number.
It was important for me to inform the community the type of services in which are available should they or a loved one ever need to reach out for help. I did not have the opportunity as a child to receive the needed counseling which undoubtedly would have made a difference in my childhood and even today as an adult. When I finally faced my predator and unleashed my long kept secret, I was not prepared to face the demons. If only I knew of the local resources available to me, I could have handled the trauma of 25 years earlier, and other "secrets" I learned, much differently.
Next on my agenda was to create a brochure just for children. Something for every child to pick up and feel empowered, by reading simple "promises" and confidence boosters. Not all children feel powerful, self confident and strong enough to stand up for themselves. Even the most confident, intelligent child can be manipulated by a pedophile.
I urge every parent to research information on child sexual abuse and who the most likely predators are. You will be surprised to find only 3% of predators were strangers to their victim. Go to www.relativedanger.com for more alarming statistics and information as well as prevention education on this sensitive topic by therapist and award winning author of children's book "PLEASE KNOCK!" You can also find additional information, statistics, prevention, and symptoms of child sexual abuse at www.darknesstolight.com.
I truly believe through awareness, education and accepting the "real truth" behind who these predators really are, we can make a difference and hopefully prevent what often is a "preventable" situation. We can't wait for a tragedy to strike our community or in our own households before we step up and take action towards protecting what is most important to us, our children.
"Please, Don't Let Your Child Become a Statistic"
