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FROM THE EDITOR: APRIL IS SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH
By Claire O’Leary
As the articles begin to pour in, it becomes clear that our focus this month is around advocacy and prevention.
We all have the same end goal, to end sexual abuse of all kinds.
It’s Sexual Abuse Awareness Month after all and Child Abuse Awareness Month as well, when all us advocates speak up about the different kinds of incest and child sexual abuse (I/CSA), ways for each of us to heal, and how to protect our children; especially since we were not protected.
We begin with a Healing moment of poetry, I Breathe, then move into Talking about Child Sexual Abuse Can Help End Child Sexual Abuse by published author, Joan Tabachnick, who discusses getting real to end abuse. Featured in this issue is Brave Voices with multiple interviews by Cheryle Gail and others in Breaking The Cycle Through Awareness. We learn how much more common female to female abuse is than we were aware in Female Sexual Offenders by Donna Bulatowicz. A poem expressing trauma beyond I/CSA in This is me…HEALING, by Claire O'Leary (me).
Our Building Resilience section holds more articles than ever with our ongoing contributor Rachel Grant addressing an all too common theme with survivors in Building a New Sexual Blueprint. Another frequent contributor, Donna Bulatowicz shares her experience with getting justice in Restorative Justice. Another published author, Gloria Masters joins us for the first time with Resilience.
The Resources section is stronger than ever with almost two pages of new books and online resources. The new resources are highlighted with ** to make them easier to find in case you’ve “seen it all before.”
You’ll find biographical stories, books for advocacy, teens, young adults along with kids, parents, and adult survivors, with links to online resources .
Share your wisdom and your stories with me at Claire@ClaireOLeary.com.
View Past Issues of Voices Heard
The one and only printed issue of Voices Heard (thus far) is available for purchase at a discount (April only) for only $20. It would make a lovely gift for another survivor or those associated with survivors. Check it out. REACH OUT ANY TIME!
