2. IMARA - Who are we and what do we do?

3. An unique early Intervention service following disclosure of sexual abuse and VRI with Nottinghamshire Police
Referrals come directly from the Police and within the city boundaries
Work with families and young people throughout the process of the Criminal Justice Service.
We provide therapy, pre and post trial, advocacy and legal help.
The clients we work with are often family members of the abused, who have often been abused themselves, as well the referred person.
Recovery is long term and goes on into adulthood.

4. The Focus Group Disclosure
What a difference professionals could have made/missed opportunities
Promoting Prevention
Allow young people to have a voice

5. What blocks a disclosure? FEAR of…

7. It’s all your fault

8. Grooming and level of grooming – too much focus on disclosure and abuse and not enough understanding of grooming.

9. Child feels responsible

11. S/he loves me, s/he loves me not

12. Distraction

13. Liar, Liar…….

14. Protection of siblings

15. NSPCC research
Research from the NSPCC shows that on average it takes 7 years for a child to disclose abuse.
The Children’s Commissioner states that for every 1 child that does disclose, there will be 7 others that don’t. What does this mean in your schools and classrooms?
There is a huge level of cost to society involving Child Sexual Abuse.

16. ‘What a difference professionals could have made.’

17. A survivor of sexual abuse states…..
‘Remembering now, all these things from school – there was so much wrong in my behaviours that recurred, where I was just screaming out for someone to notice/to do something – I knew I had no damn power to change things, but I know somewhere I hoped they did and could. But they never used it if they did.’

18. Unheard Voices

19. The age and gender of victims
Victims of abuse tend to disclose at the age of 12 yrs
The average age of abuse taking place is yrs
There is an additional pressure on males as it carries a ‘heavier’ stigma
Children’s Commissioner Inquiry into Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment

20. Prevention not treatment

21. To look at prevention not just early intervention and post trial work
This would encourage a universal language in professionals to help children speak out – ‘I had a constant rehearsal in my head’ client
IMARA would like to look at prevention and understanding of grooming for adults and children.
Language

22. NSPCC ADVERT

23. A basic level of Neuroscience knowledge is needed for all professionals working with young people

24. The Amygdala and Cortisol

25. Window of Tolerance

29. Exercise
Thinking of the Window of Tolerance, think of a child you work with and discuss with your partner…….
What ‘behaviours’ do you see and think about?
How would school/staff respond to this?

30. The Making Noise Project - Children’s voices for positive change after sexual abuse. Bedfordshire University
Who are they most likely to tell?

31. Their friends

32. Their Mum’s. Can be met with further guilt, or not being believed

33. Generational abuse

34. Children’s experience of specialist services
“Gives me confidence”
“I now know this happens to other people”
Changing workers – very disruptive
Long process and so many questions “I wish I’d never told anyone’

35. Children’s experience of therapeutic input
“Made me feel validated, believed and understood”
“Supported me to make sense of what had happened”
Coping mechanisms were useful as was other practical support
Helped to challenge the stigma around abuse
Stopped me to feel so isolated
Helped me to build confidence and resilience
Helpful to see how far I’ve come, when my worker reminded me of my progress

36. "Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic
"Child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic...if this were Ebola, the whole world would shut down and yet we’re not talking about this. Where are the bracelets? Where are the ribbons? Where is the race to the cure for this disease?...If silence is a predator’s best friend, if shame and denial are the ingredients that help this epidemic to grow, then how can any of us stay silent? ...maybe instead of just focusing on how uncomfortable this conversation is, we could focus on how this is an opportunity to have courage... because there are kids out there that are counting on us to have this conversation“
Jill Tolles – University of Nevada