Survivors

If you were hurt as a kid, you might feel bad, angry, or guilty, and not know where to go for help. This website is made to support you as you try to feel better and get better. There are lots of things here to help you understand how being hurt can affect your life. You are not alone, and there is hope to get better.

Survivors Information Center

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Signs of Abuse

As a survivor of child abuse and neglect, it is important to know the signs of abuse that you or someone you know may have experienced. These signs can be physical, emotional, or behavioral and may vary depending on the type of abuse. By being aware of these signs, you can begin to understand the impact that abuse has had on your life and begin to take steps towards healing. Our resources provide information on the different types of abuse and the signs to look out for, as well as support and guidance for survivors.

What to Look For:

Sexual Abuse - Physical Indicators

Pain or itching in genital area.
Bruises or bleeding in genital area.
Sexually transmitted disease.
Frequent urinary or yeast infections.
Extreme or sudden weight change.
Pregnancy under 12 years of age.

Sexual Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

Withdrawal, chronic depression.
Sexual behaviors or references that are unusual for the child’s age.
Seductive or promiscuous behavior.
Poor self-esteem, self-devaluation, lack of confidence.
Suicide attempts (especially adolescents).
Hysteria, lack of emotional control.

Physical Abuse - Physical Indicators

Unexplained bruises (in various stages of healing), welts, loop marks.
Adult/human bite marks.
Bald spots or missing clumps of hair.
Unexplained burns/scalds.
Unexplained fractures, skin lacerations/punctures or abrasions.
Swollen lips/chipped teeth.
Linear/parallel marks on cheeks and temple area.
Crescent-shaped bruising.
Puncture wounds.
Bruising behind the ears.

Physical Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

Self-destructive/self-mutilation.
Withdrawn and/or aggressive-behavior extremes.
Uncomfortable/skittish with physical contact.
Arrives at school late or stays late as if afraid to be at home.
Chronic runaway (adolescents).
Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably.
Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body.
Lack of impulse control (e.g. inappropriate outbursts).

Emotional Abuse - Behavioral Indicators

Self-destructive/self-mutilation.
Withdrawn and/or aggressive-behavior extremes.
Uncomfortable/skittish with physical contact.
Arrives at school late or stays late as if afraid to be at home.
Chronic runaway (adolescents).
Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably.
Wears clothing inappropriate to weather, to cover body.
Lack of impulse control (e.g. inappropriate outbursts).

Physical Neglect - Physical Indicators

Unattended medical needs.
Lack of supervision.
Regular signs of hunger, inappropriate dress, poor hygiene.
Distended stomach, emaciated.
Significant weight change.

Physical Neglect - Behavioral Indicators

Regularly displays fatigue or listlessness, falls asleep in class.
Steals/hoards food, begs from classmates.
Reports that no caretaker is at home.

What is a CAC?

Trauma Informed Care

This page provides information on trauma-informed care and resources that may be helpful for survivors seeking care. If you are a survivor of child abuse and neglect, you may find that your experiences have left lasting emotional and psychological effects. Trauma-informed care is an approach to healthcare that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals, seeks to provide sensitive and supportive care that addresses the whole person, and promotes recovery.

Links

“Trauma-informed care is a strengths based framework that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.”

Facts & Myths

We understand that learning facts about child abuse and neglect can be overwhelming and many myths exist around the topic. This website provides resources to help you understand facts and myths surrounding child abuse and neglect. Our goal is to help you better understand what child abuse is, what it looks like, and what you can do if you or someone you know has been abused. We are here to provide support and resources to promote healing from the trauma of abuse and neglect.

MYTH

It’s only abuse if it’s violent.

FACT

Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Neglect and emotional abuse can be just as damaging, and since they are more subtle, others are less likely to intervene.

MYTH

Child abuse only happens in lower economic classes of society.

FACT

Child abuse doesn’t discriminate. Child abuse can and does happen anywhere and to anyone. It exists in every corner of society. It transcends locations, races, socioeconomic classes, and communities and can occur in many forms.

MYTH

Emotional abuse and neglect are less serious than physical abuse.

FACT

Child abuse in all forms can result in actual or potential harm. There are various types of child abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and mental and emotional neglect. All of which include an emotional component.

MYTH

A Parent's main worry should be to protect their children from strangers.

FACT

More than 90% of child abuse happens at the hands of someone the child knows.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood, such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or exposure to violence. Research shows that individuals who experience multiple ACEs are more likely to have negative health outcomes, such as chronic diseases, mental illness, and substance abuse issues. By learning about ACEs, you can gain insight into the ways in which trauma can impact the brain and body. This understanding can help you develop strategies for coping with the effects of trauma, such as seeking therapy or other support services. Additionally, understanding ACEs can help you recognize patterns of behavior in your own life and in the lives of others, which can help you make more informed decisions about your relationships and your overall well-being.

Resiliency

As a survivor of child abuse and neglect, it’s important to remember that you are a strong and resilient person. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from difficult experiences and overcome adversity. By learning about resiliency, you can gain a better understanding of how to cope with the effects of your past experiences and develop skills to move forward in a positive direction. Remember, you are not alone.

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“In the context of exposure to significant adversity, resilience is both the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to the psychological, social, cultural, and physical resources that sustain their well-being, and their capacity individually and collectively to negotiate for these resources to be provided in culturally meaningful ways.”

–Dr. Michael Unger

Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious trauma is the emotional and psychological impact of hearing about and witnessing traumatic events. Understanding the concept of vicarious trauma can help you recognize signs of emotional distress in your own life and seek out support as needed.

Training

As medical and clinical professionals, it’s important to have access to the
resources and tools necessary to provide effective care and support to your
patients, particularly those who have experienced trauma. That’s why we are
committed to providing a range of resources to support your professional
development in trauma-informed care.

Our organization offers a variety of resources, including guides, toolkits, and
online resources, to help you build the knowledge and skills necessary to provide
trauma-informed care. These resources are designed to provide you with the
latest research and best practices in the field of trauma-informed care, and to
give you practical tools and strategies for working with trauma survivors.

We believe that by providing you with access to these resources, we can help
you to provide the best possible care and support to your patients, and promote a
more compassionate and resilient healthcare system for all. Browse our
resources today to learn more about how we can support your professional
growth and development in trauma-informed care.

Resources

As a survivor of child abuse and neglect, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help and support. Our goal is to provide you with resources and support needed to move forward. You are not alone, and help is available.

ACEs

Trauma Informed Care

Mandatory Reporting

Resilience

Vicarious Trauma

Sexual Development

Relationship Violence

Teens

Human Traficking

Tools, Screeners, & Assessments

Professionals use a variety of tools and assessments to determine how to provide you with the support you may need in your healing journey. If you are interested in having an assessment please reach out to a qualified professional (i.e, physician, mental health professional).

Mandatory Reporting

You may have concerns about the safety and well-being of children in similar situations. It is important to know that there are professionals who are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. This is called mandated reporting. Understanding the process of mandated reporting can help you feel safe to speak up if you think you are being abused or neglected. Below you will find information on mandated reporting and resources to help you understand the reporting process.