Daisy Tells a Secret.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month... Thanks Dr. Phil!

It Should NEVER Hurt To Be A Child! Stop Abuse NOW!

Child Sexual Abuse Changes The Life Of A Child FOREVER! Help Protect Our Children.

Forensic Nurse Stories - An Unforseen Ending

Gender Selection-Child Abuse

The Hindu News reports:    

Ms. Reshma had said that her husband Umar Farook, who had wanted a boy child, had physically abused the child, and had attempted to kill her in the preceding days. When she was brought in she had suffered haemorrhages in her brain and retina, and had multiple bite marks on her thighs and cigarette burn marks on her body. Since Tuesday, Afreen, who was already on ventilator support, went into a semi-comatose state following two convulsions. Three-month-old Neha Afreen who had been battling for life since Friday after being allegedly battered by her father, died of cardiac arrest here on Wednesday. Doctors at the Vani Vilas Hospital said that around 10.40 a.m. she suffered a cardiac arrest and died 30 minutes later. Reshma Bano, the child's mother, vented her ire at Umar Farook, her husband, who is alleged to have assaulted the child. “My baby was innocent, and he killed her. He's a devil and should get the strictest punishment.”

During interrogation, Farook had confessed to the crime and multiple attacks on the child in the past three months, the police said.

Child abuse can be happening anywhere, in any town, in your town!

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April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

Every voice should be heard, speak up if you know of a victim or are a victim of child abuse.
No child should live in fear or pain.

Sexual Violence in Older Adults

Sexual Violence against the elderly has often been overlooked, minimized, and ignored. These forgotten victims are left to live with the emotional and physical scars of this crime all alone.

Sexual abuse of the elderly is one of the least reported types of elder victimization.  It is important to listen to and believe someone when they describe being sexual abused.  If you know of someone who has reported being sexually abused, please seek help.

In most elder sexual assault cases, the perpetrator is a caregiver or family member -representing a unique betrayal of trust.  The victim often has already experienced losses of power and control due to dependence on the caregiver. Many abusers are also dependent on their victims for housing, transportation and sometimes care.

There is a wide range of sexual abuse which many older people experience, physical contact such as oral, anal and vaginal rape, molestation, and sexualized kissing; Or non- physical contact such as sexual harassment and threats, forced pornography viewing, using older adults to produce pornography, exhibitionism, and exposing the victim’s body as a form of humiliation.

There are many signs and symptoms of sexual abuse in an older adult

·         Sleep disturbances

·         Incontinence

·         Increased Anxiety

·         Crying spells

·         Withdrawal

·         Sudden avoidance or fear of specific people

·         Depressive Assumptions

·         Agitation

·         Personal Hygiene

·         Restlessness

·         Decreased enjoyment of activities

·         Intrusive memories

·         Attempts to leave care facilities which they were previously willing to remain

·         Genital, anal, throat and oral injuries

·         Bruising on breasts, buttocks, thighs, neck and other body area

·         Imprint injuries; human bite marks

·         Sexually transmitted diseases

·         Difficulty walking or sitting

If you are a victim or know of someone who you think is a victim, speak out.  

Sarah's House
Child and Family Advocacy Center
928-757-8103

Honor Thy Children

History of National Abuse Prevention Month

Increasing public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children led to the passage of the first Federal child protection legislation, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), in 1974. While CAPTA has been amended many times over the years, most recently by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, the purpose of the original legislation remains intact.

 Today, the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal agency charged with supporting states, tribes, and communities in providing programs and services to protect children and strengthen families.

In the early 1980s, Congress made a further commitment to identify and implement solutions to child abuse. Recognizing the alarming rate at which children continued to be abused and neglected and the need for innovative programs to prevent child abuse and assist parents and families affected by maltreatment, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives resolved that the week of June 6-12, 1982, should be designated as the first National Child Abuse Prevention Week. They asked the President to issue a proclamation calling upon Government agencies and the public to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

The following year, April was proclaimed the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, child abuse and neglect awareness activities have been promoted across the country during April of each year. The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) within the Children's Bureau coordinates Child Abuse Prevention Month, providing information and releasing updated national statistics about child abuse and neglect each April.

In 1989, the Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse had its early beginnings as a Virginia grandmother's tribute to her grandson who died as a result of abuse. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her car as a way to remember him and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse. The Blue Ribbon Campaign has since expanded across the country, and many wear blue ribbons each April in memory of those who have died as a result of child abuse. In some communities, special fundraisers are held to support prevention activities and treatment facilities for victims, and candlelight vigils are held as a remembrance. Most recently, the focus has shifted toward a more positive message of celebrating "blue ribbon" individuals, organizations, and communities who have done much to prevent child abuse and neglect.

In Title II of the CAPTA amendments of 1996, the Children's Bureau was charged with identifying a lead agency in each State for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants. These grants support the development, operation, and expansion of initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as the coordination of resources and activities to strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment. CBCAP grantees within each State often take a leadership role in coordinating special events and preparing materials to support Child Abuse Prevention Month. Regardless of their role, CBCAP grantees are required to report annually on their Child Abuse Prevention Month activities.

In 2003, as part of the 20th anniversary of the original Presidential Proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, OCAN recast the National Child Abuse Prevention Initiative as a year-long effort. This initiative was launched at the 14th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, which was devoted to the theme of prevention. A national press conference there was the setting for the release of the publication Emerging Practices in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The expansion of the Child Abuse Prevention Initiative was consistent with priorities of the Administration for Children and Families and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. OCAN and Child Welfare Information Gateway (formerly, the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information) partnered with the broader child abuse prevention community to raise awareness of the issue through a variety of tools, resources, activities, and public awareness events. Many of these materials have been made available in print and on the web to related Federal agencies, organizations, and concerned citizens in communities nationwide.

In 2004, there was emerging consensus among national child abuse prevention organizations and related Federal agencies that building public will for child abuse prevention required engaging the public in efforts to strengthen and support families and enhance parenting skills. Building on this national momentum, OCAN shifted the focus of its child abuse prevention resources to incorporate a family strengthening message promoting parenting and community support. Today, the Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is an opportunity for communities across the country to keep children safe, provide the support families need to stay together, and raise children and youth to be happy, secure, and stable adults.

Common Sense ways to stay safe this Spring Break

Washington, D.C., February 29th — Did you know that college aged students are at the highest risk for being sexually assaulted? With spring break in full swing, RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, released helpful safety tips for spring break.
Whether you are headed to the beach or overseas or devoting your spring break to community service, it’s important to keep your safety top of mind. In addition to common sense travel safety tips like wearing sunscreen and keeping your passport safe, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk and prevent you or a friend from being the victim of sexual assault.

1. Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe in any situation, go with your gut. If you feel uncomfortable or something doesn’t feel right, leave and get to a safe place immediately. If someone is pressuring you, it’s better to lie and make up a reason to leave than to stay and be uncomfortable, scared, or worse.

2. Protect your location on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare etc. Think twice before sharing every detail of your spring break on Facebook and Twitter. Despite security settings, posting information about your whereabouts or activities can still reveal details that are accessible to the public. Use your best judgment when “checking-in” on Facebook or Foursquare and be cautious of revealing personal information through status updates or tweets with Twitter trends like #SpringBreak and #SB2012.

3. Get Local. Know your accommodation address and the safest routes to and from your local destinations. Have the number for local cab companies on hand and always keep enough cash on you to take a taxi home. Know who to contact in the event of an emergency, such as 911 or local authorities. If traveling internationally, have the contact information for the U.S. Embassy with you.

4. Be a good friend and stick together. Arrive together, check in with one another throughout the night, and leave together. Think twice about going off alone; if you have to separate from your friends, let them know where you are going and who you are with. If something seems questionable or someone is acting aggressively, don’t be afraid to intervene. By speaking up, you may help prevent your friend from being the victim (or perpetrator) of a crime.

5. Don’t let your guard down. A spring break destination can create a false sense of security among vacationers. Don't assume that fellow spring breakers will look out for your best interests; remember they are essentially strangers.

6. Use your cell phone as a tool. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, shoot a quick text for a "friend-assist." Make a back-up plan before you go out just in case your phone dies. If you are traveling internationally, buy a pay-as-you-go phone or contact your cell phone provider to activate international coverage during your trip.

7. Drink responsibly and know your limits. Always watch your drink being prepared, and, when possible, buy drinks in bottles. If you lose sight of your drink or believe it might have been tampered with, throw it out and get a new one. If you or a friend seem too intoxicated for the amount of alcohol consumed or you suspect that someone has been drugged, get to a hospital.

In the event of a sexual assault during spring break, seek immediate medical attention. In the U.S., call 911 for emergency help or the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) for advice and support. Information provided by RAINN.org

If you are a victim this Spring Break of sexual assault or know someone who is a victim, call someone, do not wait. Call the Police, or call Sarah's House at (928) 757-8103.

Have a safe Spring Break!!

Sexual Assault in Teenagers

It is important to carefully consider teen sexual abuse, and how to stop it. One way is education. It is important for teens and adults to understand that sexual abuse of teenagers is wrong, and that it can encompass a variety of sex acts, and that fear, impaired judgment (due to drugs, alcohol or mental state) and coercion can lead to sexual abuse, even though the victim may not actively resist. A victim whose compliance is due to factors other than a desire to engage in sexual activity has not actually consented.

While female teenagers are more likely to be sexually abused that male teenagers, cultural, racial and economic factors do not seem to have an effect on the likelihood of becoming a victim of teen sexual abuse.

Here are some teen sexual abuse statistics:

·         1 in 4 girls (25%) are sexually abused by the age of 18. 

·         1 in 6 boys (17%) are sexually abused by the age of 18. 

·         Most teen sexual abuse victims (7 in 10, or 70%) know their abuser. It is generally a family member, or someone close to the family. 

·         Of female Americans who are raped, 54 percent of them experience this type of sexual abuse for the first time before they are 18. 

·         A victim of one incident of teen sexual abuse is likely to experience further sexual abuse. 

·         Teenagers account for 51% of all reported sexual abuse 

·         Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely than the general public to be victims of sexual abuse. 

·         69% of the incidences of teen sexual abuse occur in a residence. 

·         23% of all sexual offenders are under the age of 18 

·         Female victims of teen sexual abuse while in grades 9 through 12 are more likely than others to experience eating disorders, suicidal behavior, pregnancy and risky sexual behaviors.

·         Only about 31% of teen sexual abuse incidents are reported. Social stigma, fear of retribution and the trauma of not being believed all contribute to the lack or reporting.

SPEAK UP

If you or someone you know is a victim or abuse, speak up, don't wait.
Talk to someone you trust, a teacher, a friend, a preacher, or a police officer.

Its okay to tell, it only takes ONE voice.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted/raped

Believe in yourself.  Know that when you are forced to have ANY form of sexual contact without your consent, it is NOT your fault.

Find a safe environment - anywhere away from the attacker. Contact someone immediately that you trust to come and stay with you for support.

Do not change your clothes, do not bathe or brush your teeth. Do not go to the bathroom if possible. This is in order to preserve evidence if you choose to make a police report. Going to the Advocacy Center or hospital does not always mean you have to notify the police. It is for your medical safety to be examined. Even with no visible physical injuries, it is important to determine if internal injuries were sustained (such as tearing or bruising), and to weigh the risks of STDs and pregnancy.

Write down all the details you can recall about the assault and the perpetrator, even if it is someone you know.  

In order to preserve any forensic evidence, ask the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse and the advocate to explain what the Forensic Evidence Kit is, how it is performed, what the process is once it is completed and the benefits of the procedure. If there was no penetration, you may still have the kit completed to obtain evidence elsewhere on your body.

If you suspect you may have been drugged, report immediately to SANE Nurse. The window period to collect evidence of drugs (either through a urine sample or blood) is extremely short.

Report the sexual assault to local law enforcement authorities, even if the assault occurred in another district. An advocate can provide the information you'll need to understand the criminal justice system process.

Recognize that healing from sexual assault or any trauma takes time. Allow yourself the time you will need to recover emotionally, mentally, and physically. There is no set time frame for your healing process.

The Secret

Volunteer Your Time, the greatest gift you have!

Would you like to donate some of your spare time to charity? Sarah's Foundation is looking for people who would like to be a member of our 2012 Charity Golf Tournament committee or our 2012 Gala committee. If you are interested in joining contact Jennette Fisher at (928) 757-8103 or e-mail me at jfisher@sarahshouseaz.org. Both committees meet once per month and will give you a chance to give back to the community with a group of fantastic and fun people dedicated to helping victims in Mohave County! We need YOUR help in making a difference in the lives of assault victims. Please Repost if you are from Mohave County, Arizona.

The Gala...

The night was a huge success raising nearly $100,000 for our victims. We could not have done it without all of our supporters. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts as do the victims.