Word from the Founder   

I am a wife, mother of 6 amazing children, and a registered Nurse.  Our home was affected by child sexual abuse and trafficking as our children attended a local summer day camp.  (Trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children can take many forms and include forcing a child into prostitution or other forms of sexual activity or child pornography).

 

The disclosure of our child’s experience has been a long journey, but has awakened us to the growing child sex industry through child pornography and child sex trafficking.  Child sexual abuse comes in many forms and has many variables.  Law enforcement is limited on permissible evidence concerning young children and their ability to disclose, as child sexual abuse is done in the dark, behind closed doors, manipulated by fear, shame, and silence. Our child was severely manipulated through fear and shame to silence and secrets by a man that was given authority over him.  Our child was only 5 years old at the time.

 

Thankfully, we recognized the signs of increased fear, and anxiety.  All it took, was asking, “Do you have any secrets?”  I had no idea, the impact that this question would have as secrets were exposed concerning a sequence of events that occurred Introducing our family to this dark place. I can only share from a Mother’s heart. My perspective and my passion is driven as I continue to learn and research the variables within this Child Sexual Abuse and Child Sex Trafficking Industry.  As a Christian, I know that God’s heart beats for these children. I am driven by His perspective in preventing this darkness, by rescuing & restoring these little ones. Our little ones need us to stand in the gap of their vulnerability, recognizing the signs, and confronting the issues.

 

My advice as a parent is to live aware. Knowing the reality of statistics of sexual abuse, and trafficking increases the probability that “yes” it can occur in the happiest and healthiest of homes.  Being aware, doesn’t make you paranoid, it empowers you.  An abuser stays away from empowered families and individuals.  Enforce childcare policies within your access.  An abuser, even if working in your child’s environment will be confined to boundaries and policy. If your intuition is raising a red flag, do not disregard it.  Questioning the behavior or policies of someone who has contact with your child, is only an intent to set boundaries, and is your parental right.

 

You may have needed rescuing, but instead you remained silent or your family stuffed your disclosure.   Where are those silent children, sexually abused by other children, family, friends, and neighbors?  Where does the child pornography come from within the United States?  Let’s talk about it, let’s share our secrets, and let’s stop the cycle!!!!!  Please feel free to contact us and share your story. By hearing your story, we will learn more, recognizing the different scenarios and variables of sexual abuse.

 

My HEART is to find children 17 years and younger, and Rescue them through shining a light to every possible scenario, hearing them through their silence by recognizing basic PTSD behaviors, behaviors associated with fear and shame, and working with law enforcement to enhance their protocols and tools while investigating suspected or known sexual child abuse.

 

~ Lisa Newman RN CCRN SANE/Founder/CEO