Child abuse is a deadly epidemic. Some people are naive to the words child abuse. Those same people believe abuse only happens in poverty stricken homes and to uneducated people, but the truth is abuse does not discriminate. It happens in the best of homes by both men and women, regardless of race, color or sexual orientation.
It becomes very disappointing day after day to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television and see the dramatic increase in child abuse headlines, but what really disturbs and angers me, as a parent and as a advocate, is not one of these media sources provides a solution to families, victims or survivors. The mere thought of education and awareness to prevent child abuse has never crossed their minds, and if it had, it too, went unspoken.
It's hard to rationalize, but there are 309,198,229 people in the United States and 6,818,849,423 people in the world, and statistics show 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be molested by the age of 18. Currently there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse, every 10 seconds a child is abused in the United States and today, 5 children will die from abuse or neglect.
How can we as a society fail your, my and our children, and continue to empower abusers and pedophiles? How can we allow these monsters to succeed, and rob our children of their childhoods, youths and innocence?
I am pleased to write to you about a wonderful organization I am proud to represent, Dreamcatchers for Abused Children. Dreamcatchers is a 501 (c) 3 Michigan based non-profit child abuse and neglect awareness organization, dedicated to educating the public on the signs, symptoms, statics, intervention, prevention to assist victims and survivors in locating the proper resources to help achieve and enable a full recovery. This amazing organization was founded by best selling child abuse author and expert Sandra Dawn Potter in February 2007.
I strongly believe in this organization and the knowledge it can provide to be in the best interest of men, women and children around the globe.
Dreamcatchers for Abused Children has enjoyed a significant growth within the last two years. Last year, Dreamcatchers provided services and resources to the community reaching over 35,000 members; an outstanding record of achievement. Dreamcatchers staff has doubled in an effort to effectively administer new campaigns, as well as manage the organization's growing responsibilities.
Over the last three years I have worked one on one with abused children and their families. From experience, I know the only way to fight child abuse is to expose the truth and secrets pedophiles use to lure innocent children into their deceitful web. The public needs to know how manipulative and cruel abusers can be, how to fight back, and how to survive. Education and knowledge is power, and the sole key to prevention of child abuse.
Over the last two years our organization has proven the effectiveness of leadership, development and advocacy. Our organization has helped demonstrate that community outreach programs make an impact on victims, survivors and their families.
Dreamcatchers is seeking to expand our successful campaigns to provide educational materials to give families, victims and survivors information about child abuse & neglect, treatment for recovery, coping skills, family and peer support, prevention, communication skills, empowerment, and the power of advocacy.
The need for awareness education cannot be overstated. Dreamcatchers for Abused Children is a national role model, in hopes of building a bright future and a better quality of life by creating advocacy and empowering children.
Sincerely,
Donna Kshir
