I really love the theme of this conference empowering connections
conference empowering connections
conference empowering connections because it reminds me of how powerful
because it reminds me of how powerful
because it reminds me of how powerful vulnerability is vulnerability is at the
vulnerability is vulnerability is at the
vulnerability is vulnerability is at the root of how we connect with each other
root of how we connect with each other
root of how we connect with each other and the world around us we can’t have a
and the world around us we can’t have a
and the world around us we can’t have a true level of connection with someone
true level of connection with someone
true level of connection with someone without a certain level of vulnerability
without a certain level of vulnerability
without a certain level of vulnerability but on the other hand trauma can
but on the other hand trauma can
but on the other hand trauma can disconnect us April is nationally known
disconnect us April is nationally known
disconnect us April is nationally known as Child Abuse Prevention Month
as Child Abuse Prevention Month
as Child Abuse Prevention Month it’s estimated that five children die
it’s estimated that five children die
it’s estimated that five children die every day in the United States due to
every day in the United States due to
every day in the United States due to abuse and neglect in in honor of the
abuse and neglect in in honor of the
abuse and neglect in in honor of the child health awareness campaign I have
child health awareness campaign I have
child health awareness campaign I have painted five of my fingers purple as a
painted five of my fingers purple as a
painted five of my fingers purple as a visual reminder for the five children
visual reminder for the five children
visual reminder for the five children that die every day in the United States
that die every day in the United States
that die every day in the United States due to abuse and neglect every single
due to abuse and neglect every single
due to abuse and neglect every single second of every single minute of your
second of every single minute of your
second of every single minute of your day matters I don’t think anyone would
day matters I don’t think anyone would
day matters I don’t think anyone would argue with that because in one second
argue with that because in one second
argue with that because in one second your life can change I know mine did and
your life can change I know mine did and
your life can change I know mine did and let’s be honest child sexual abuse is
let’s be honest child sexual abuse is
let’s be honest child sexual abuse is not fun for anyone to talk about or hear
not fun for anyone to talk about or hear
not fun for anyone to talk about or hear about but we have to get comfortable
about but we have to get comfortable
about but we have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable
we have to get comfortable with the
we have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable because it’s the only way
uncomfortable because it’s the only way
uncomfortable because it’s the only way we’re going to see true progress with
we’re going to see true progress with
we’re going to see true progress with this issue and with other issues in our
this issue and with other issues in our
this issue and with other issues in our nation although it’s not comfortable we
nation although it’s not comfortable we
nation although it’s not comfortable we have to face it because denial around
have to face it because denial around
have to face it because denial around this issue which is what I find a lot in
this issue which is what I find a lot in
this issue which is what I find a lot in this field is not helping our children
this field is not helping our children
this field is not helping our children and as a survivor I know that I’m not
and as a survivor I know that I’m not
and as a survivor I know that I’m not alone in this room it’s estimated that
alone in this room it’s estimated that
alone in this room it’s estimated that one in three girls are sexually abused
one in three girls are sexually abused
one in three girls are sexually abused before the age of eighteen and I am one
before the age of eighteen and I am one
before the age of eighteen and I am one of three daughters it’s also estimated
of three daughters it’s also estimated
of three daughters it’s also estimated that one in six boys are sexually abused
that one in six boys are sexually abused
that one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of eighteen there are 42
before the age of eighteen there are 42
before the age of eighteen there are 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse
million survivors of child sexual abuse
million survivors of child sexual abuse in America alone
in America alone
in America alone let’s wrap our minds around that number
let’s wrap our minds around that number
let’s wrap our minds around that number 42 million and to give you a comparison
42 million and to give you a comparison
42 million and to give you a comparison this is about three times more prevalent
this is about three times more prevalent
this is about three times more prevalent than the amount of Americans living with
than the amount of Americans living with
than the amount of Americans living with cancer and we all know someone living
cancer and we all know someone living
cancer and we all know someone living with cancer the difference is there’s
with cancer the difference is there’s
with cancer the difference is there’s generally more public support with
generally more public support with
generally more public support with cancer and as soon as it’s diagnosed
cancer and as soon as it’s diagnosed
cancer and as soon as it’s diagnosed it’s generally treated with this issue
it’s generally treated with this issue
it’s generally treated with this issue child sexual abuse I hear a lot of
child sexual abuse I hear a lot of
child sexual abuse I hear a lot of people say this doesn’t happen in my
people say this doesn’t happen in my
people say this doesn’t happen in my community this doesn’t happen in my
community this doesn’t happen in my
community this doesn’t happen in my school this doesn’t happen in my church
school this doesn’t happen in my church
school this doesn’t happen in my church and I always say I hope you’re right I
and I always say I hope you’re right I
and I always say I hope you’re right I hope you’re right but the American
hope you’re right but the American
hope you’re right but the American Medical Association has labeled child
Medical Association has labeled child
Medical Association has labeled child sexual abuse a silent epidemic and I
sexual abuse a silent epidemic and I
sexual abuse a silent epidemic and I believe this is because it is truly the
believe this is because it is truly the
believe this is because it is truly the silence that kills it’s estimated that
silence that kills it’s estimated that
silence that kills it’s estimated that two-thirds of children will never tell
two-thirds of children will never tell
two-thirds of children will never tell two-thirds of children and I believe
two-thirds of children and I believe
two-thirds of children and I believe this is because over 90% of the time a
this is because over 90% of the time a
this is because over 90% of the time a child is abused by someone that they
child is abused by someone that they
child is abused by someone that they know but not just someone that they know
know but not just someone that they know
know but not just someone that they know someone that they also trust see
someone that they also trust see
someone that they also trust see perpetrators use this pre-existing
perpetrators use this pre-existing
perpetrators use this pre-existing relationship as a deposit for the child
relationship as a deposit for the child
relationship as a deposit for the child silence it’s much easier for a child to
silence it’s much easier for a child to
silence it’s much easier for a child to tell on a stranger than it is a family
tell on a stranger than it is a family
tell on a stranger than it is a family member or a loved one but in silence
member or a loved one but in silence
member or a loved one but in silence shame is allowed to grow and what’s kept
shame is allowed to grow and what’s kept
shame is allowed to grow and what’s kept in secret has power over us
in secret has power over us
in secret has power over us that’s why we cannot heal what we don’t
that’s why we cannot heal what we don’t
that’s why we cannot heal what we don’t reveal on an individual level and as a
reveal on an individual level and as a
reveal on an individual level and as a society because silence and shame are a
society because silence and shame are a
society because silence and shame are a predators weapon of choice we have to
predators weapon of choice we have to
predators weapon of choice we have to refuse not to keep the secret in our
refuse not to keep the secret in our
refuse not to keep the secret in our society and this is not a crime that
society and this is not a crime that
society and this is not a crime that just happens to at-risk children I was
just happens to at-risk children I was
just happens to at-risk children I was not an at-risk child growing up I was
not an at-risk child growing up I was
not an at-risk child growing up I was quite the opposite I was a teacher’s kid
quite the opposite I was a teacher’s kid
quite the opposite I was a teacher’s kid and any teachers kids in here know that
and any teachers kids in here know that
and any teachers kids in here know that there’s not much you can get away with
there’s not much you can get away with
there’s not much you can get away with the spotlight is always on you and when
the spotlight is always on you and when
the spotlight is always on you and when I was in the second grade my mom told me
I was in the second grade my mom told me
I was in the second grade my mom told me that she had accepted a teaching
that she had accepted a teaching
that she had accepted a teaching position at a private Christian school
position at a private Christian school
position at a private Christian school and she took my two sisters and I with
and she took my two sisters and I with
and she took my two sisters and I with her and it’s at this private Christian
her and it’s at this private Christian
her and it’s at this private Christian school where my older sister and I met
school where my older sister and I met
school where my older sister and I met our best friends and they were in the
our best friends and they were in the
our best friends and they were in the same extracurricular activities as we
same extracurricular activities as we
same extracurricular activities as we were and our best friends also happen to
were and our best friends also happen to
were and our best friends also happen to be siblings and their mom also worked at
be siblings and their mom also worked at
be siblings and their mom also worked at the school with my mom so it’s very
the school with my mom so it’s very
the school with my mom so it’s very convenient to be around this family and
convenient to be around this family and
convenient to be around this family and basketball was my sport of choice my
basketball was my sport of choice my
basketball was my sport of choice my love and they played basketball as well
love and they played basketball as well
love and they played basketball as well but not only that they lived in the
but not only that they lived in the
but not only that they lived in the neighborhood right near us so there was
neighborhood right near us so there was
neighborhood right near us so there was a lot of carpooling going on just think
a lot of carpooling going on just think
a lot of carpooling going on just think of your closest family friends who you
of your closest family friends who you
of your closest family friends who you do life with and this is who this family
do life with and this is who this family
do life with and this is who this family was for us but little did I know that
was for us but little did I know that
was for us but little did I know that someone who was like a father to me
someone who was like a father to me
someone who was like a father to me my best friend’s father and someone who
my best friend’s father and someone who
my best friend’s father and someone who also played the role of a basketball
also played the role of a basketball
also played the role of a basketball coach in my life would sexually abuse me
coach in my life would sexually abuse me
coach in my life would sexually abuse me for years and he started grooming me at
for years and he started grooming me at
for years and he started grooming me at the age of 12 and for those of you who
the age of 12 and for those of you who
the age of 12 and for those of you who don’t know what grooming is grooming is
don’t know what grooming is grooming is
don’t know what grooming is grooming is when a perpetrator goes out of their way
when a perpetrator goes out of their way
when a perpetrator goes out of their way to gain trust and access to the child
to gain trust and access to the child
to gain trust and access to the child and families are groomed as well
and families are groomed as well
and families are groomed as well families are groomed so that they will
families are groomed so that they will
families are groomed so that they will trust the perpetrator to be alone with
trust the perpetrator to be alone with
trust the perpetrator to be alone with their child and after that first
their child and after that first
their child and after that first incident in the car of sexual assault
incident in the car of sexual assault
incident in the car of sexual assault when he drove me home one night I knew I
when he drove me home one night I knew I
when he drove me home one night I knew I would never be the same feelings I had
would never be the same feelings I had
would never be the same feelings I had never felt before intense shame blame
never felt before intense shame blame
never felt before intense shame blame fear and guilt and no amount of
fear and guilt and no amount of
fear and guilt and no amount of showering could get that dirty clammy
showering could get that dirty clammy
showering could get that dirty clammy feeling off of me and I was threatened
feeling off of me and I was threatened
feeling off of me and I was threatened not to tell like most children are and I
not to tell like most children are and I
not to tell like most children are and I minimized the event and I told myself
minimized the event and I told myself
minimized the event and I told myself that it would never happen again
that it would never happen again
that it would never happen again but I was wrong it continued for years
but I was wrong it continued for years
but I was wrong it continued for years how could I tell my best friend that
how could I tell my best friend that
how could I tell my best friend that their father was a monster how could I
their father was a monster how could I
their father was a monster how could I tell his sweet wife who worked at the
tell his sweet wife who worked at the
tell his sweet wife who worked at the school how could I tell her who her
school how could I tell her who her
school how could I tell her who her husband really was so as the burden of
husband really was so as the burden of
husband really was so as the burden of keeping this secret and suffering in
keeping this secret and suffering in
keeping this secret and suffering in silence continued I developed severe
silence continued I developed severe
silence continued I developed severe changes in behavior I went from being
changes in behavior I went from being
changes in behavior I went from being outgoing to socially withdrawn and
outgoing to socially withdrawn and
outgoing to socially withdrawn and depressed I went from making good grades
depressed I went from making good grades
depressed I went from making good grades to failing I had horrible insomnia and
to failing I had horrible insomnia and
to failing I had horrible insomnia and awful night terrors I would wake up in
awful night terrors I would wake up in
awful night terrors I would wake up in the middle of the night halfway down the
the middle of the night halfway down the
the middle of the night halfway down the stair landing with my hand on the stair
stair landing with my hand on the stair
stair landing with my hand on the stair railing heart beating out of my chest
railing heart beating out of my chest
railing heart beating out of my chest not knowing how I got there and it would
not knowing how I got there and it would
not knowing how I got there and it would take me hours to get my heart rate down
take me hours to get my heart rate down
take me hours to get my heart rate down after a night terror but not just that I
after a night terror but not just that I
after a night terror but not just that I also began cutting cutting is very
also began cutting cutting is very
also began cutting cutting is very common and victims of sexual abuse and
common and victims of sexual abuse and
common and victims of sexual abuse and for those of you who don’t understand
for those of you who don’t understand
for those of you who don’t understand cutting it is directly related to
cutting it is directly related to
cutting it is directly related to control because at least I could
control because at least I could
control because at least I could control the pain at least I could
control the pain at least I could
control the pain at least I could control the bleeding but worst of all I
control the bleeding but worst of all I
control the bleeding but worst of all I lost hope I lost hope that I could get
lost hope I lost hope that I could get
lost hope I lost hope that I could get out of my situation that I could get any
out of my situation that I could get any
out of my situation that I could get any better that I could tell and the number
better that I could tell and the number
better that I could tell and the number one predictor of suicide is loss of hope
one predictor of suicide is loss of hope
one predictor of suicide is loss of hope but I imagine a scenario in my head
but I imagine a scenario in my head
but I imagine a scenario in my head where if I were successful in taking my
where if I were successful in taking my
where if I were successful in taking my own life he would be at the funeral
own life he would be at the funeral
own life he would be at the funeral and he would attend to my parents needs
and he would attend to my parents needs
and he would attend to my parents needs and he would ask if there’s anything he
and he would ask if there’s anything he
and he would ask if there’s anything he can do to help and no one would have
can do to help and no one would have
can do to help and no one would have ever known some people to take the
ever known some people to take the
ever known some people to take the secret of being sexually abused to the
secret of being sexually abused to the
secret of being sexually abused to the grave with them but not only that I
grave with them but not only that I
grave with them but not only that I started to believe the lies that shame
started to believe the lies that shame
started to believe the lies that shame whispered to my soul I started to
whispered to my soul I started to
whispered to my soul I started to believe over time that maybe I did
believe over time that maybe I did
believe over time that maybe I did something to bring this on maybe this
something to bring this on maybe this
something to bring this on maybe this was my fault maybe I was a bad person
was my fault maybe I was a bad person
was my fault maybe I was a bad person maybe maybe I wasn’t worth protecting
maybe maybe I wasn’t worth protecting
maybe maybe I wasn’t worth protecting and many children believe these lies
and many children believe these lies
and many children believe these lies that shame whispers to their soul after
that shame whispers to their soul after
that shame whispers to their soul after sexual abuse twice I even went to the
sexual abuse twice I even went to the
sexual abuse twice I even went to the emergency room because they broke out in
emergency room because they broke out in
emergency room because they broke out in hives all over my body after two
hives all over my body after two
hives all over my body after two separate instances of sexual assault and
separate instances of sexual assault and
separate instances of sexual assault and the doctors they tested me for all kinds
the doctors they tested me for all kinds
the doctors they tested me for all kinds of allergies but I wasn’t allergic to
of allergies but I wasn’t allergic to
of allergies but I wasn’t allergic to anything and so they said she must be
anything and so they said she must be
anything and so they said she must be stressed she must be a stressed out
stressed she must be a stressed out
stressed she must be a stressed out little girl after that my parents were
little girl after that my parents were
little girl after that my parents were really worried and took me to different
really worried and took me to different
really worried and took me to different doctors to try to find a physiological
doctors to try to find a physiological
doctors to try to find a physiological reason for what was wrong they tested my
reason for what was wrong they tested my
reason for what was wrong they tested my thyroid they tested me for anemia but I
thyroid they tested me for anemia but I
thyroid they tested me for anemia but I was healthy otherwise and no parent
was healthy otherwise and no parent
was healthy otherwise and no parent wants to consider that their child’s
wants to consider that their child’s
wants to consider that their child’s being sexually abused no educator wants
being sexually abused no educator wants
being sexually abused no educator wants to think that a student in their
to think that a student in their
to think that a student in their classroom is being sexually abused the
classroom is being sexually abused the
classroom is being sexually abused the adults around me were never educated on
adults around me were never educated on
adults around me were never educated on what those simple warning signs and
what those simple warning signs and
what those simple warning signs and symptoms are
finally when I was 16 years old we did
finally when I was 16 years old we did what we always did for the holidays we
what we always did for the holidays we
what we always did for the holidays we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the perpetrators family and the day
with the perpetrators family and the day
with the perpetrators family and the day after Christmas my sister asked me to go
after Christmas my sister asked me to go
after Christmas my sister asked me to go to lunch and I was so excited because
to lunch and I was so excited because
to lunch and I was so excited because I’ve always been close with my sisters
I’ve always been close with my sisters
I’ve always been close with my sisters and as we’re talking over lunch she
and as we’re talking over lunch she
and as we’re talking over lunch she looks at me and she gets real serious
looks at me and she gets real serious
looks at me and she gets real serious and she says Jenna I’m going to ask you
and she says Jenna I’m going to ask you
and she says Jenna I’m going to ask you a question and you have to promise to
a question and you have to promise to
a question and you have to promise to tell me the truth
tell me the truth
tell me the truth and of course in my head I’m thinking oh
and of course in my head I’m thinking oh
and of course in my head I’m thinking oh my goodness she knows I borrowed her
my goodness she knows I borrowed her
my goodness she knows I borrowed her brand-new shirt and I didn’t put it back
brand-new shirt and I didn’t put it back
brand-new shirt and I didn’t put it back in the right spot I’m dead that’s it I’m
in the right spot I’m dead that’s it I’m
in the right spot I’m dead that’s it I’m dead anybody’s anybody with sisters
dead anybody’s anybody with sisters
dead anybody’s anybody with sisters knows that it’s an ongoing battle and it
knows that it’s an ongoing battle and it
knows that it’s an ongoing battle and it still is today it never it never failed
still is today it never it never failed
still is today it never it never failed the whole borrowing close argument
the whole borrowing close argument
the whole borrowing close argument without asking for permission and this
without asking for permission and this
without asking for permission and this is what I’m thinking in my head to say
is what I’m thinking in my head to say
is what I’m thinking in my head to say okay what could be that bad okay I
okay what could be that bad okay I
okay what could be that bad okay I promise I promise to tell you the truth
promise I promise to tell you the truth
promise I promise to tell you the truth she looked at me and she said has anyone
she looked at me and she said has anyone
she looked at me and she said has anyone ever hurt you and without saying a word
ever hurt you and without saying a word
ever hurt you and without saying a word I gave her the answer I broke down into
I gave her the answer I broke down into
I gave her the answer I broke down into uncontrollable tears right there at the
uncontrollable tears right there at the
uncontrollable tears right there at the restaurant
restaurant
restaurant the server avoided us several times it
the server avoided us several times it
the server avoided us several times it was the big scene and when I was able to
was the big scene and when I was able to
was the big scene and when I was able to catch my breath I said yes but I can’t
catch my breath I said yes but I can’t
catch my breath I said yes but I can’t tell you who because you know this
tell you who because you know this
tell you who because you know this person you wouldn’t believe me and she
person you wouldn’t believe me and she
person you wouldn’t believe me and she said try me she said we’re not leaving
said try me she said we’re not leaving
said try me she said we’re not leaving here until you tell me because he’s
here until you tell me because he’s
here until you tell me because he’s never going to hurt you again and I told
never going to hurt you again and I told
never going to hurt you again and I told her and the important thing is that she
her and the important thing is that she
her and the important thing is that she believed me she believed me and that
believed me she believed me and that
believed me she believed me and that night we called we called the police
night we called we called the police
night we called we called the police after after I told my family and of
after after I told my family and of
after after I told my family and of course there’s no words for how my
course there’s no words for how my
course there’s no words for how my family felt they had gone out of their
family felt they had gone out of their
family felt they had gone out of their way to make sure these exact things
way to make sure these exact things
way to make sure these exact things didn’t happen in our life after we
didn’t happen in our life after we
didn’t happen in our life after we called 911 I made the report my parents
called 911 I made the report my parents
called 911 I made the report my parents took me to a psychiatrist to a fish
took me to a psychiatrist to a fish
took me to a psychiatrist to a fish diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress
diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress
diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress disorder insomnia anxiety suicidal
disorder insomnia anxiety suicidal
disorder insomnia anxiety suicidal ideation and it was two steps forward
ideation and it was two steps forward
ideation and it was two steps forward and seven steps backward in therapy but
and seven steps backward in therapy but
and seven steps backward in therapy but thank goodness my parents found our
thank goodness my parents found our
thank goodness my parents found our local Children’s Advocacy Center the
local Children’s Advocacy Center the
local Children’s Advocacy Center the Children’s Advocacy Center is a free
Children’s Advocacy Center is a free
Children’s Advocacy Center is a free national resource for children and
national resource for children and
national resource for children and families who have been victims of abuse
families who have been victims of abuse
families who have been victims of abuse and at our local Children’s Advocacy
and at our local Children’s Advocacy
and at our local Children’s Advocacy Center I didn’t feel alone I didn’t feel
Center I didn’t feel alone I didn’t feel
Center I didn’t feel alone I didn’t feel like I was the only one going through
like I was the only one going through
like I was the only one going through what I was going through I could see
what I was going through I could see
what I was going through I could see that there were other kids that had been
that there were other kids that had been
that there were other kids that had been hurt the same way I had and I felt a
hurt the same way I had and I felt a
hurt the same way I had and I felt a sense of community and support I
sense of community and support I
sense of community and support I received free one-on-one counseling free
received free one-on-one counseling free
received free one-on-one counseling free group counseling and when we decided to
group counseling and when we decided to
group counseling and when we decided to press charges
press charges
press charges they helped prepare me for court and the
they helped prepare me for court and the
they helped prepare me for court and the whole trial process was very arduous I
whole trial process was very arduous I
whole trial process was very arduous I was on the witness stand for three and a
was on the witness stand for three and a
was on the witness stand for three and a half hours three and a half hours but
half hours three and a half hours but
half hours three and a half hours but thank goodness thank goodness the jury
thank goodness thank goodness the jury
thank goodness thank goodness the jury gave my perpetrator 70 years in prison
gave my perpetrator 70 years in prison
gave my perpetrator 70 years in prison and he has to serve at least 20 of those
and he has to serve at least 20 of those
and he has to serve at least 20 of those years although I never received an
years although I never received an
years although I never received an apology I forgave so that it no longer
apology I forgave so that it no longer
apology I forgave so that it no longer had power over me and by the grace of
had power over me and by the grace of
had power over me and by the grace of God I was able to embrace the healing
God I was able to embrace the healing
God I was able to embrace the healing process and face the trauma I cannot
process and face the trauma I cannot
process and face the trauma I cannot stress enough the importance of
stress enough the importance of
stress enough the importance of counseling if you’ve been a victim of
counseling if you’ve been a victim of
counseling if you’ve been a victim of this crime
I was able to trust other people instead
I was able to trust other people instead of hiding from people I was I was able
of hiding from people I was I was able
of hiding from people I was I was able to trust sources of help instead of
to trust sources of help instead of
to trust sources of help instead of running or hiding from sources of help
running or hiding from sources of help
running or hiding from sources of help and slowly my walls started to come down
and slowly my walls started to come down
and slowly my walls started to come down but I’m not just telling you personally
but I’m not just telling you personally
but I’m not just telling you personally that there’s hope in healing and that
that there’s hope in healing and that
that there’s hope in healing and that this crime is preventable but the
this crime is preventable but the
this crime is preventable but the research tells us that this crime is
research tells us that this crime is
research tells us that this crime is preventable that is the good news the
preventable that is the good news the
preventable that is the good news the Center for Disease Control has said that
Center for Disease Control has said that
Center for Disease Control has said that this is a public health problem but that
this is a public health problem but that
this is a public health problem but that the key is in prevention that’s our
the key is in prevention that’s our
the key is in prevention that’s our solution our solution is in prevention
solution our solution is in prevention
solution our solution is in prevention I’ll give you an example when this
I’ll give you an example when this
I’ll give you an example when this realization first set in after I made my
realization first set in after I made my
realization first set in after I made my outcry I had to get a sane exam sexual
outcry I had to get a sane exam sexual
outcry I had to get a sane exam sexual assault nurse examiner and as I was at
assault nurse examiner and as I was at
assault nurse examiner and as I was at that hospital my mom waited in the
that hospital my mom waited in the
that hospital my mom waited in the hospital waiting room in to pass the
hospital waiting room in to pass the
hospital waiting room in to pass the time she picked up a pamphlet
time she picked up a pamphlet
time she picked up a pamphlet that read signs and symptoms of child
that read signs and symptoms of child
that read signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse and as she’s reading it she
sexual abuse and as she’s reading it she
sexual abuse and as she’s reading it she gets out a pen from her purse and she
gets out a pen from her purse and she
gets out a pen from her purse and she starts to mark off over 80% of those
starts to mark off over 80% of those
starts to mark off over 80% of those signs and symptoms that I had displayed
signs and symptoms that I had displayed
signs and symptoms that I had displayed through the course of the last few years
through the course of the last few years
through the course of the last few years and she was appalled because as an
and she was appalled because as an
and she was appalled because as an educator for 20 years she’d never seen
educator for 20 years she’d never seen
educator for 20 years she’d never seen such material I was summed up in one
such material I was summed up in one
such material I was summed up in one page of bullet points if only she saw
page of bullet points if only she saw
page of bullet points if only she saw this pamphlet she could have prevented
this pamphlet she could have prevented
this pamphlet she could have prevented this from happening or at least stopped
this from happening or at least stopped
this from happening or at least stopped it from happening for as long as it did
it from happening for as long as it did
it from happening for as long as it did that pamphlet looked very similar to
that pamphlet looked very similar to
that pamphlet looked very similar to this and this is the child help speak up
this and this is the child help speak up
this and this is the child help speak up be safe curriculum it’s one of the best
be safe curriculum it’s one of the best
be safe curriculum it’s one of the best curriculums I’ve seen for students and
curriculums I’ve seen for students and
curriculums I’ve seen for students and out of her experience as an educator of
out of her experience as an educator of
out of her experience as an educator of never knowing what those simple warning
never knowing what those simple warning
never knowing what those simple warning signs are and out of my own experience
signs are and out of my own experience
signs are and out of my own experience out of never having the chance to tell
out of never having the chance to tell
out of never having the chance to tell in school
in school
in school never knowing that it was
never knowing that it was
never knowing that it was okay to tell the idea for Jenna’s law
okay to tell the idea for Jenna’s law
okay to tell the idea for Jenna’s law was born and Jenna’s law bears my name
was born and Jenna’s law bears my name
was born and Jenna’s law bears my name and it passed first in Texas in 2009 and
and it passed first in Texas in 2009 and
and it passed first in Texas in 2009 and it mandates that all schools through
it mandates that all schools through
it mandates that all schools through 12th grade have to train their school
12th grade have to train their school
12th grade have to train their school staff educators and students on how to
staff educators and students on how to
staff educators and students on how to recognize prevent and especially report
recognize prevent and especially report
recognize prevent and especially report this crime now since 2009 over half the
this crime now since 2009 over half the
this crime now since 2009 over half the country has adopted some form of
country has adopted some form of
country has adopted some form of legislation for their schools we know
legislation for their schools we know
legislation for their schools we know that after Jenna’s law training
that after Jenna’s law training
that after Jenna’s law training educators are about four times more
educators are about four times more
educators are about four times more likely to report versus their pre
likely to report versus their pre
likely to report versus their pre training careers when we don’t address
training careers when we don’t address
training careers when we don’t address this issue we feed the deadly silence
this issue we feed the deadly silence
this issue we feed the deadly silence that this crime thrives on thrives on
that this crime thrives on thrives on
that this crime thrives on thrives on and when children and adults are
and when children and adults are
and when children and adults are educated about the crime taught safety
educated about the crime taught safety
educated about the crime taught safety strategies who is safe to tell and how
strategies who is safe to tell and how
strategies who is safe to tell and how to report a victimized child is more
to report a victimized child is more
to report a victimized child is more likely to get the help that they need I
really want to encourage you to look
really want to encourage you to look into your community your school your
into your community your school your
into your community your school your churches and find out what prevention
churches and find out what prevention
churches and find out what prevention policies are in place what prevention
policies are in place what prevention
policies are in place what prevention programs are in place to protect
programs are in place to protect
programs are in place to protect children you know we have a lot in place
children you know we have a lot in place
children you know we have a lot in place for prevention on texting and driving
for prevention on texting and driving
for prevention on texting and driving and drinking and driving so why wouldn’t
and drinking and driving so why wouldn’t
and drinking and driving so why wouldn’t we have prevention for a crime that is
we have prevention for a crime that is
we have prevention for a crime that is this prevalent if you leave here with
this prevalent if you leave here with
this prevalent if you leave here with one thing today I want you to know that
one thing today I want you to know that
one thing today I want you to know that there is hope we live in the most
there is hope we live in the most
there is hope we live in the most hopeful day and age where we have access
hopeful day and age where we have access
hopeful day and age where we have access to online resources prevention programs
to online resources prevention programs
to online resources prevention programs counseling and support
I want you to know that this crime is
I want you to know that this crime is preventable 95 percent of child sexual
preventable 95 percent of child sexual
preventable 95 percent of child sexual abuse is preventable through proper
abuse is preventable through proper
abuse is preventable through proper education that’s the good news that’s
education that’s the good news that’s
education that’s the good news that’s the good news and if this is something
the good news and if this is something
the good news and if this is something that you have been through despite what
that you have been through despite what
that you have been through despite what anybody says I want you to know that
anybody says I want you to know that
anybody says I want you to know that there is healing after child sexual
there is healing after child sexual
there is healing after child sexual abuse and if you haven’t started that
abuse and if you haven’t started that
abuse and if you haven’t started that process yet I hope that you will start
process yet I hope that you will start
process yet I hope that you will start today and refuse to keep the secret
today and refuse to keep the secret
today and refuse to keep the secret thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment