a non profit 501(c)3
Because of you, more kids are being protected,
more adult survivors served!
NAASCA has a single purpose, to address issues related to childhood abuse and trauma including sexual assault, violent or physical abuse, emotional traumas and neglect .. and we do so from two specific perspectives
:
- educating the public, especially as related to getting society over the taboo of discussing childhood sexual abuse, presenting the facts that show child abuse to be a pandemic, worldwide problem that affects everyone
- offering hope for healing through numerous paths, providing many services to adult survivors of child abuse and information for anyone interested in the many issues involving prevention, intervention and recovery
Building a survivor community ...
because
together we can do what we cannot do alone
.
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Welcome to the December 2017 Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing to NAASCA's newsletter mailing list!
Please encourage others to stay in touch too.
'Compassion' - this month's newsletter theme
December is Universal Human Rights Month
- Purpose is to educate people, especially children and teenagers, on their human rights and the importance of upholding these in their own communities and globally.
- The UN General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France, on the December 10, 1948.
Significant Dates in December:
2nd is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
- Focuses on the eradication of slavery in its contemporary forms including the worst forms of child labor, forced child marriage and all forms of human child trafficking.
5th International Volunteer Day
- Fundraising to target poverty eradication, violence prevention, gender based anti-discrimination laws and accountability.
- This year's theme: Volunteers Act First. Here. Everywhere. This idea centers around volunteers as being the first responders in times of crisis.
10th International Human Rights Day
- It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, events are held worldwide.
- Organized protests to alert people of circumstances in parts of the world where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not recognized or respected
- The document has been translated in many languages including sign language and auditory versions. Here is a link to read the English version of this declaration.
10th Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
- Beginning at 7:00 p.m. local time, light a candle to honor the memories of children who have left this world too soon, including children who have died as a result of child abuse.
- Use #WorldwideCandleLightingDay to post on social media.
- Find the event located closest to you by at the EVENT WEBSITE.
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What Does It Mean to Have Compassion?
Compassion is the ability to understand the emotional state of another person or oneself, and wanting to alleviate the suffering. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word compassion stems from the Latin “compati”, meaning “to suffer with." To be compassionate literally means not to pity a person who is suffering from a distance, but to
join with them
in healing, meeting needs, and removing the causes of suffering.
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Treating people with compassion is believed to improve your own mental health and well being by buffering stress and is a central part of the process of recovery for survivors of child abuse. Here are some ways you can focus on compassion this month:
- Share compassion to children in your family and community. Compassionate care giving styles have been shown to increase the development of sympathy and caring in children. By being a compassionate adult in the lives of children we can reach them in ways others possibly didn't for our own younger selves. This can be a healing experience for our "inner child" as much as it gives a sense of purpose to our adult self. You can model healthy adult-child bonds and appropriate boundaries, build resiliency and problem solving skills in children struggling with various problems, keep our eyes and ears open for children who may have abuse, neglect, or other issues that need adult intervention.
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- Give the gift of compassion to your NAASCA family members. The winter season is a time when many different religious and non-religious holidays are observed. For survivors of child abuse, this can cause a whole spectrum of mixed emotions that are difficult to deal with. While some of us may be uplifted by spending time with family and friends, others may be exposed to conflicted family interactions, or may entirely avoid family contact. While some may enjoy abundance through feasting and shopping, others may be struggling financially and going without. While some are in an elated mood others may be experiencing serious depression, isolation, grief, or anxiety.
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No matter what you are experiencing, we all benefit from sharing our compassion. Reach out to other survivors with a private message or email, respond to a post on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter, mail a thoughtful card, or take time for a phone call. Be a listening ear, share your experiences, and offer each other encouragement. As members of our NAASCA family no one should have to suffer through this season alone or in silence.
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If you are struggling this season, please reach out through NAASCA's social media, or contact one of our NAASCA volunteers. We are here for you!
OR
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Have You Connected With Us On Social Media ?
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There are many ways to connect with other NAASCA members online and to stay in-the-know about NAASCA updates. Just click the links below to join us for networking, discussion groups, resources and support from other survivors of child abuse, and access to useful information. Ask a question, comment on a current events, talk about your personal experiences, and share your artwork, poetry, blogs, and helpful links with other survivors.We would love to hear from you!
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Monthly Spotlight On A Fabulous NAASCA Volunteer !
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Meet Carolin O'Hara
(London, England)
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Carolin first became involved with NAASCA in 2013 as a survivor of incest. She has been married to her husband John for 37 years, and is the mother of an adult daughter. She is healthy and active at 60, and besides her daily volunteer work with NAASCA, Carolin also works in a specialty shop for gentlemen's suits and clothing. In her spare time she likes to "potter around" in her garden. Carolin is an avid reader who enjoys complex crime thrillers and heads a book club on the
Times 100 Must Reads
list. There are two books she would recommend to other Survivors which are
the
Courage to Heal Workbook
by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis and
The Monster's Game
which is a poetic look into the child behind the mask of a survivor by Littlegirl413.
This month's theme is compassion. Carolin shares about a time in her life when someone's compassion was important in her recovery as a survivor of child abuse:
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"I was on the road to self destruction until I met my husband, he was and is Kind, Generous, Compassionate and understand. He gave me a shelter from my storms by being solid and caring, something I just wasn't used to."
When asked what she enjoys most from her volunteer work with NASCA, Carolin replied:
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The thing I enjoy most about NAASCA is answering emails from people who need help. It's very rewarding to be able to help someone get started on their healing journey. I suffered in the past with mental ill health and the voluntary work I do for NAASCA is fantastic for giving me a focus and great reason to get out of bed daily. I usually do my volunteer work early in the mornings when the house is quiet and the phone's not ringing. I click onto a lot of websites dealing with childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence and it's great to find so many people committed to helping survivors.
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Carolin O'Hara, London, UK
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Carolin's volunteer work includes keeping NAASCA's Recovery Groups and Services page updated. This page is a listing of ALL the English speaking support groups and services that can be found in North America and around the world.
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Another part of Carolin's volunteer work includes updating each of the calendars listed on NAASCA's Calendar page. This is where you can find events in your local area to attend that support survivors in recovery.
If you want an organization listed on the Recovery Groups and Services page, have an event you would like to add to the NAASCA Calendars, or just want to say hello to Carolin, you can contact her by email at:
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Want to know about some of the many different ways YOU can volunteer with NAASCA?
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Have You Called-In to Our Radio Show Lately ?
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Six nights a week we broadcast an live streaming talk radio show on topics of public safety and child abuse prevention, intervention, and recovery as a survivor of child abuse.
Tune in on Sundays for 'Community Matters,' and Monday-Friday for 'Stop Child Abuse Now' (SCAN). Every Wednesday and Friday night shows feature a special guest. Every show begins at
8 PM EST / 5 PM PAC
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We really want your call-in participation!
We would like to encourage ALL of our NAASCA Members to participate as a panelist during the live shows by calling
(
646-595-2118)
. This helps support the special guests on the show and gives more variety and depth to the discussions. Your opinions matter to us and to those listening! You will never be asked to share more than you are comfortable with. If you want to call the number only to listen to the show, this is perfectly acceptable too. This show is one of our great free services to support Survivors.
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NAASCA Needs YOU for Our Ambassador Program!
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NAASCA is still in need of volunteer Ambassadors and Regional Directors in the Canadian provinces and US states! This volunteer position is very flexible and easy to work within whatever time you have available. It is a great way to share your compassion by letting other survivors reach out to you, maybe for the first time, for support in their recovery from child abuse.
Regional Directors and Ambassadors will help NAASCA members with finding their way around our web site, and referring people to our projects, tools, services, and resources. Our Ambassadors have a commitment to represent NAASCA in their state or province, and engage in our social media efforts. Ambassadors will also be familiar with resources specific to their local area to provide upon request to NAASA members.
If you can volunteer as an Ambassador or have any questions, please contact, Terri Lanahan, who oversees all aspects of this project.
Contact:
Terri Lanahan
Ambassador Program Director & NAASCA Secretary
Phone
:
406 / 299-0253
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A Note from Our Founder and CEO:
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Healing from child abuse and trauma can be a very lonely journey .. but you'll never be alone again, a day at a time, if you don't want to be !!
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NAASCA belongs to no other group and receives no outside funding. We're self-supporting through our own members' voluntary contributions.
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Please consider a one time
or recurring donation
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Thanking you for all you do in the fight against child abuse and trauma and welcoming you to engage with your NAASCA family, I remain, as always,
Yours in service,
Bill Murray
, Founder and CEO
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.
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