First name / Chain Breaker...
Shalom! Do you know your ACE score?
Whether you have children or not, it is our responsibility to protect children (and our inner child). This includes YOU, nieces, nephews, neighbors, etc. Sometimes we can forget that WE were once children too.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur during childhood (ages 0-17). These experiences have lasting, negative effects on health, well-being, and our outlook on life.
The 10 ACEs were defined as the following childhood experiences:
Physical, sexual or verbal abuse
Physical or emotional neglect
Separation or divorce
A family member with mental illness
A family member addicted to drugs or alcohol
A family member who is in prison
Witnessing a parent being abused
Whether you know it or not, ACEs affect us - but they don't have to rule us!
Preventing childhood sexual abuse is of utmost importance to ensure the well-being and safety of children. While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk, there are several proactive steps that can be taken to help prevent such abuse. Here are some strategies for preventing childhood sexual abuse:
1. Education and Awareness: It's important to educate our children, parents, caregivers, and communities about the issue of childhood sexual abuse. Promote awareness of the signs and symptoms, risks, and prevention strategies. Join Rock Your Crown!
2. Open Communication: You'd be amazed at how open dialogue helps set the stage for healing and prevention. Encourage open and age-appropriate communication between adults and children about body boundaries, safe and unsafe touches, and appropriate behavior. Teach children the importance of reporting any uncomfortable or inappropriate experiences to trusted adults.
3. Establish Boundaries: Age appropriately discuss with your children about personal boundaries and empower them to assertively say "no" to any unwanted touch or interaction. Teach them to recognize and respect the boundaries of others. Authority figures are not always right. They have a right to say no - even to family. That's a lesson I wish I'd learned much earlier! Sexual trauma happens most often with those we KNOW. In the 80s and 90s it was all about STRANGER DANGER. Little did we know, it was not the strangers that we should be watching!
4. Screening and Training: Check in and check on! Implement thorough screening and background checks for individuals working with children, such as teachers, coaches, childcare providers, and volunteers. Provide comprehensive training on recognizing signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and appropriate behavior around children.
5. Empowerment: Children are groomed in toxic family systems. They are conditioned for tolerance which plays a part in low self-esteem. Help to foster healthy self-esteem, assertiveness, and self-confidence in children, which can make them less vulnerable to abuse. Encourage activities that promote personal empowerment, such as sports, arts, and leadership programs.
6. Supervision: Do not allow children to play or spend the night even at family or friends without supervision! Ensure adequate supervision of children in various settings, including schools, sports clubs, religious institutions, and community organizations. Maintain an environment where there is accountability for the safety and well-being of children.
7. Online Safety: Predators love the internet and narcissists love social media because they can pretend to be anyone. Educate children and parents about online safety, including safe internet practices, privacy settings, and the potential risks associated with online interactions. Encourage open discussions about online activities and establish rules for internet usage.
8. Recognize Warning Signs: If something seems OFF PAY ATTENTION. Do not be so worried about earning a living that you forget about the children. Educate adults about the warning signs that a child may be experiencing sexual abuse, such as behavioral changes, sudden mood swings, regression, withdrawal, or unexplained physical injuries. Promptly report any suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
9. Reporting and Response: Create a safe and supportive environment where children feel comfortable reporting abuse. Establish clear reporting procedures and ensure that allegations are taken seriously and handled appropriately by authorities.
10. Community Collaboration: Get involved! Foster collaboration between schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, social services, and community organizations to create a comprehensive network of support for preventing and responding to childhood sexual abuse.
Remember that prevention efforts involve a multi-faceted approach and require the commitment and cooperation of individuals, churches, your A-team, families, communities, and institutions to protect children and create a safer environment for their healthy development.
When you do not process and heal childhood trauma, it deals with YOU!
It's time to unpack and address those inner child wounds in a safe space.
Can you see the correlation between childhood trauma and narcissist abuse? I have often said that until we HEAL we are wounded children in adult's bodies!
Register for Chain Breaker University (CBU) today to help you navigate the challenges, provide guidance on setting healthy boundaries, and healing childhood wounds.
Join me in CBU and in the upcoming Rock Your Crown for practical and biblical solutions!
