Posted by Sandra On November - 27 - 2018ADD COMMENTS
Far too many kids are exposed to abuse and neglect, both physical and emotional, and although it’s not pleasant to think about, statistics would indicate that you probably know at least one family that’s causing harm to their kids. If you’re in contact with a child through the school or after school clubs, or maybe it’s a friend of your own child, how would you know if they’re at risk, and what should you do if you suspect there’s a problem?
Signs that a child is at risk
Wondering whether a child is being neglected or abused isn’t the first question you’d ask yourself on an average day, and looking for possible indications of trouble at home in every child you meet isn’t a helpful or practical approach. Some people feel they have an instinct for when a child is unhappy or uncared for, and if you’re a parent yourself, you may well be sensitive to an unhappy child.
On a practical level, a child who is unkempt, has dirty or ill-fitting clothes, or misses school on a regular basis could be experiencing problems at home. Changes in a child’s personality, or being very quiet or disruptive could indicate they’re having emotional problems. These signs don’t mean a child is being abused; it could be that they live with a single parent who is struggling financially or has their own health problems – they could well be doing their best, but finding it hard to cope. Parents could be going through alcohol or narcotics withdrawal, like the treatments offered at this rehab center, and need support rather than condemnation.
What should you do if you’re worried about a child?
If you know them well, then you might be tempted to try talking to the child and finding out what’s wrong. Unfortunately, an act of kindness like this is rarely productive, because there’s so much you don’t know about the situation, and you won’t have the skills or authority to help.
Every US state has a system in place for people to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect, so the best action to take is contacting Child Protective Services (CPS) and tell them of your fears. CPS professionals are trained in assessing cases reported to them and intervening if a child is in need, so if you have sincere concerns it’s always best to give them a call and let them take over.
Calls to the CPS are confidential and toll-free, and you can find a list of numbers online at the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. The site also gives more information about the procedure in each state and is a good source of information on child welfare issues.
If you’re worried about a child’s welfare, you have a duty to take action. There may not be a problem, but if there is, it’s better to have done something about it than ignored it and let the child continue to suffer. We should all be looking out for children and doing our best to make sure they live happy, healthy lives.
As a parent, whether that’s biological, adoptive, or foster, it is your job to keep your children feeling as safe and secure as possible. They need to have the confidence that someone is there for them, no matter what, and they deserve to have a childhood full of joy, laughter, and love; there will be time enough to worry and problems when they’re older. So here are some great – easy – ways to make your kids feel safe.
Make Time For Them
To be completely safe and secure, a child needs to know that you are going to be around. That means spending time with them. It needs, of course, to be quality time, and you need to be entirely present. So ditch the cell phone and the work worries and forget about the grocery store or getting the car serviced – these jobs can wait, but making a child smile and feel safe needs to be done as often as possible.
Show Them Affection
Children need affection, and it is often easier than you might think to give it. There doesn’t need to be a big production; there doesn’t need to be any planning. Perhaps a quick hug, a gentle kiss on the forehead, just holding hands when you are walking together; these actions are often all that is needed to show that you love and cherish your little ones. A child who knows he or she is loved often thrives and develops faster than one who is never shown any affection.
Give Them Praise
Children need to be praised when they do something right or accomplish something wonderful. Praising a child gives them better self-esteem and self-confidence, and it makes them feel good about themselves so that they continue to do praiseworthy things. Just a few simple words of encouragement is enough to help them on their way.
Be Your Best
A parent who is not looking after their own health and well-being can’t give a child a safe and secure life. Even if you think you are hiding any health issues from your children it’s likely they will know that something is wrong, even if they don’t know exactly what. It’s far better to seek treatment from a doctor, a therapist, or at addiction treatment centers and then be well enough to be there for your child as the best person you can be.
Listen
It’s such a simple thing, but really listening to a child will always make them feel safe and happy. Children always have a lot to say, and there will always be something new and exciting that they want – and need – to tell you about. It may not mean much to you, but it’s important to them, so it’s essential you listen. If you can ensure that your children feel happy telling you about the little things, then they will feel safe and secure enough to tell you about the bigger things too.
Laugh and Have Fun
Playing and joking with your children and really laughing at the funny things everyone is doing can help a child feel happy and secure. You can be as silly as you need to be – no one will judge you and your children really will love you for it.
The abuse of children, in whatever form it takes, is one of the most abhorrent acts humans are capable of, and justifiably gives rise to feelings of extreme anger and the desire for revenge upon the perpetrators. However sickened and distressed you may feel as someone who is working or living with a victim of abuse, your focus has to remain on helping, counseling and nurturing the affected child, and giving them all the support you can. This can be emotionally draining for you, too, so it’s important to understand how you feel and take action to avoid letting emotional distress affect your own health.
Accepting your feelings
Helping to repair the shattered lives of abused and neglected children is bound to take its toll on you, but as someone who cares so much for the welfare of the children concerned, it can sometimes be hard to accept that you have a right to feel negative emotions. The rationale is usually along the lines of, “This child has been through so much, what right do I have to be upset and hurt when none of these things was done to me?”. You need to understand that you do have every right to feel these emotions, and the reason you feel the way you do is your empathetic nature. You feel their pain almost as if it were your own, and these emotions are real and entirely natural.
Learning how to manage your feelings
Trying to shut yourself down and suppress what you are feeling is not the answer, and can lead to you having physical and mental health problems of your own. Frontline emergency service personnel are renowned for being able to keep a sense of humor and stay calm even in the direst of circumstances. It’s not that they have closed off their emotions, but they have found ways to compartmentalize them for the duration of their working day, so that they can function in the harrowing and stressful situations they encounter so regularly. What is essential is to be able to find your own ways of dealing with your stress and the emotions you’re feeling so that they don’t build up inside and affect your own health.
Diversion, relaxation and letting it out
There are three main methods of dealing with your emotional stress:
Finding something that completely takes your mind away from your worries and gives you a break. Sports are good for this, as well as music, learning new skills, hobbies, and perhaps a special event like an Escape Room STL adventure or something that challenges you like abseiling.
Finding ways to truly relax your mind and body is essential for health and wellbeing. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness; there are many alternative approaches that you can try until you find one that suits you.
Don’t be afraid to have a good cry and let your emotions out when you are with someone sympathetic and caring. Holding back your tears will do you far more harm than letting them flow. Talking about your feelings with a good friend, trusted colleague or a counselor will also help ease the strain.
To be able to give your best to the children in your care, you need to look after yourself first. You won’t be able to help them if you become ill or burnt out, so for their sakes, be kind to yourself.
Whether the abuse is emotional, physical or sexual, damage done in your childhood doesn’t just affect you when you’re young. Children can be very impressionable, and the experiences we go through as a child can have a bigger part to play in shaping who we become as an adult than many of us may realize. Going through an abusive situation as a child or being abused by somebody who was in a position of trust can lead to severe mental health issues in many adults. The good news is that whatever you have been through, help is out there for everybody. It’s not uncommon for children who suffer abuse to grow into adults who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health complaints, but with the right treatment, you can come out the other side stronger and more in control than ever before.
#1. Therapy:
For many adults who suffered abuse as a child, their therapist is the first person they talk to. As a child, it can be difficult to talk about any kind of abuse, and many children don’t realize the seriousness of what happens to them until they are much older. On the other hand, as an adult, you know who to turn to and have a clearer idea of what’s right and wrong. Speaking with a therapist can give you the outlet that you need to get everything off your chest in a non-biased, non-judgmental environment. Visit Examined Existence for more mental health tips.
#2. Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation:
For many adults who were the victims of abuse as children, it can be all too easy to fall into a pattern of self-destruction. Mental health issues caused by suffering abuse as a child can lead to further problems, for example, alcohol, drug, and other addiction issues, or simply falling into unhealthy lifestyle patterns and habits. If you have gotten to a point where you’re worried about your lifestyle, you might want to consider turning to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe anti-depressant medication or enroll you on a suitable rehabilitation program if needed. Although it’s going to take some deeper treatment to get to the root of the problem, making some smaller changes to your daily lifestyle habits can help to boost your mood and change your self-esteem. Often, low self-esteem is characteristic of adults who survived abuse as a child, so working on improving your health, fitness, and image now can enable you to feel like you’re finally the one in control.
#3. Find Supportive Friends:
Lastly, supportive friends around you can make all the difference when getting over this very terrible thing that happened to you early in life. Whether you are still a relatively young person, or it’s taken you a long time to come to terms with the abuse that you survived, having people that you can trust and confide in supporting you will give you the confidence that you need to finally overcome your past.
As an adult, getting over abuse from your childhood can be one of the most difficult things that you’ll ever do, but you’ll come out the other side a stronger person.
Growing up in an unsafe environment as a child can lead to many issues in adult life. The early developmental stages during infancy and childhood are vital for a child’s mental, physical and emotional well-being. Without a stable home environment, this can cause difficulties later in life. If a child experiences abuse during school years, it can have a severely negative effect on their education which can under-prepare them for working life as well as the ability to create healthy and meaningful relationships. The effects of child abuse can manifest in various ways, including a refusal to allow others to see their vulnerability and therefore impact on their trust in themselves and others. These traits have insidious ways of affecting all aspects of life which is why it is so important to overcome them in order to improve the overall quality of life for someone who grew up in an abusive environment. Here are some of the effects that child abuse can have in later life and how you can deal with them.
One: Low Self-Esteem
A common result of an abusive childhood is low self-esteem and a poor image of oneself. If people in a child’s home are unable to teach the child that they have worth as a human being, then they can fail to see themselves as deserving of compassion, love and respect. Low self-esteem can lead to depression, social anxiety and destructive behaviors such as self-harm. If you require assistance with any of these here are contact details for people who can help you. Self-esteem is something that you can relearn in adulthood with careful guidance from a professional. Techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy can help to untangle the links between childhood trauma and present-day low self-esteem, resulting in a better understanding of the situation and a clearer view of how to address it.
Two: Mistrust
During the early years of life, children learn that their surroundings, whatever they may be, are the norm for them. When a child is raised in an abusive home, they can grow up believing that people are inherently unkind or violent to one another, not understanding that theirs was an unfortunate yet uncommon upbringing. When a child-rearing environment demonstrates deceit and lies, it can teach a person that these are acceptable techniques used by everyone. With this belief, it is easy to see why adults who have grown up in an abusive and manipulative environment can be led to the conclusion that no one is to be trusted. Like self-esteem, however, trust can be rebuilt and nourished to let victims of child abuse live a more fulfilling life with close relationships. It might take some time for this ability to regrow, but the value of learning to trust gives people an opportunity to experience stronger bonds with friends and loved ones.
Three: Drug and Alcohol Abuse
When experiencing traumatic memories in everyday life, it can be tempting for victims of child abuse to find solace in unhealthy ways. These are often selected for their fast-acting distraction from the pain despite the negative health consequences. If you are struggling with addiction, get local help for drug rehab to provide you with assistance in the process recovery. The link between emotional well-being and physical health is a close one that many people overlook. While children tend not to have access to alcohol and drugs, victims of child abuse may use these as a temporary respite for adults. The risks far outweigh the short period of relief, however, as addiction can destroy an entire life. Alcohol can cause liver disease among many other kinds of physical illness. Addiction also affects the relationships around you and can drive a wedge between the addict and the people closest to them. Finding other ways of coping is vital as it trains the mind to grow stronger instead of becoming dependent on temporary and unhealthy solutions.
Four: Repeating Unhealthy Patterns
As mentioned before, the development of a young mind in an abusive home builds a warped sense of ordinary life. As a result, adults who experienced a traumatic childhood can become uncomfortable in healthy relationships as they may perceive them to be unnatural or untrue. These people can also find themselves in abusive relationships because it is what they were taught was normal. Healthy or not, the first few years of life dictate what a child considers to be acceptable behavior in the world and thus an abusive relationship will not raise the same concern as it might in someone who did not experience an abusive childhood. Some people have reflected on their need to be with an abusive partner as a remnant from their childhood acclimatization to disorder and unhappiness, creating an unhealthy sense of comfort when surrounded by violence or manipulative behavior. Of course, this might also link in with low self-esteem as it tricks the mind into believing that the victim is undeserving of a healthy romantic relationship. Finding a qualified professional will help to retrain the mind into noticing the difference between positive and negative signs in a relationship, romantic or otherwise.
Five: Perpetuating the Cycle
If a child is raised unaware of the uncommon nature of their situation, when they grow up and have children of their own it poses the risk of their kids being mistreated in the same way. Of course, many parents who were abused as children can be extremely loving and nurturing to their children, but there are also people who have not learned that their childhood was abnormal and unhealthy. Perhaps they believe that their parents did nothing wrong and therefore hope to raise their child in the same way to bring them up to be a similar kind of person, or perhaps they feel justified in finding an outlet for their trauma by passing it on to the next generation. Either way, victims of child abuse can become excellent parents by learning what a child needs, even if they were deprived of it themselves. With counseling and guidance, an abusive childhood does not need to impair the rest of a person’s life.
As parents, it is our responsibility to make sure that our kids are in safe hands at all times. However, due to the high amount of tasks that one has to deal with on a daily basis, it is quite hard to keep an eye on our kids all round the clock. Furthermore, parents expect their kids to be in a safe place while they are at school. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Parents need to pay attention to their kid’s behavior and know how to take necessary measures if it’s the case.
On the other hand, parents need to ensure that their kids are out of danger on their way to school. To do that, they need to teach their children how to cross the street and pay attention to traffic. Last but not least, it is important to make kids understand the possible dangers that are out there. Below there are few useful tips for parents that want safe and happy kids.
Encourage Open Conversation
Maintaining good conversation with your kids helps build mutual respect and confidence. Aim to create a safe environment at home and let your kids know that they can talk to you about anything. Encourage emotional response that promotes opening up about more “personal” matters. Lastly, always trust your gut. If you feel like something is not quite right about their behavior, take immediate measures. Speak to their teachers and even schedule a few therapy sessions with the school psychologist.
Rely on Technology for Assistance
Although many parents are reluctant when it comes to offering gadgets to their children, sometimes it is good to provide them with technology that keeps them safe. Certain applications can monitor their internet use or current location. These devices are good for preventing cyber-bullying or even abduction. No matter how good these devices are, there are certain instances when kids need to use their own rationing to escape from certain situations. Prevent personal injuries caused by car accidents by instructing them on certain rules. Make sure you’re prepared for any situation by getting in touch with a personal injury attorney firm such as Zanes Law.
Prevent Bullying
A good way of preventing this matter is by learning the school’s policy related to it. Find out where you can get help if your child is bullied at school. Write down the details because this record can be helpful for either the police or the school administration. If you can count on technology to prevent cyber-bullying, you need to be able to count on teachers to eliminate this problem from the classroom environment. Speak to them on a regular basis and ask them to contact you immediately if something bad happens.
Medical Emergency
Kids are prone to small accidents or allergic reactions while at school. As a parent, you need to find out what happens if they have to deal with these situations. Pick a school that has at least a medical nurse that looks after the kids and is trained in CPR. Find out whether your kids will be accompanied to the hospital if they suffer from a serious accident or need further medical investigations. This information allows you to rest assured that they are out of danger while at school.
These unwritten rules tend to be overlooked by parents these days. After all, it is good to remember that their safety is a lot more important than any other matter.
Abuse is something that no child should have to endure. It robs them of a normal childhood and can be disruptive to their mental state and emotions. Seeing as all children are vulnerable to some extent, it becomes the role of the parents or guardians to ensure they are well protected. With the way most people’s daily lives are set up, it’s almost impossible to be with your child and watch over them every second of the day. You, however, can take a number of precautions to ensure that they’re safe and not in harm’s way. This article is going to explore some of the ways that you can protect vulnerable children from abuse.
Monitor Their Movements at All Times
Depending on their age, children can tend to move around a lot. If they aren’t zooming up and down the house, then they may be likely to be having a conversation with a familiar person or sometimes a stranger. It is, therefore important that you try your best to monitor their movements constantly. You should always know where they are and who they’re talking to, whether they’re with you or not.
In this technological age, it seems that younger children are getting access to the internet. This opens up doors and gives child abusers and sex offenders access to children of younger ages. You should make it a priority to monitor who your kids are talking to and interacting with via the internet. This means that if they have tablets connected to the internet, for instance, you should make it a priority to regularly go through their search history and check who they’re messaging through their games as well. Child violence, exploitation and abuse are said to often practiced by someone the child knows like a teacher, parent, caretaker, relative or law enforcement authorities. For this reason, you should monitor everyone who is around your child even if they don’t seem as though they’re a threat.
Teach Them About Abuse
Children are often both innocent and naïve, so teaching them about what abuse is can never be done too early. You could start by telling them what behavior is appropriate and which isn’t and why. There are a number of ways to go about this which include using demonstrations, pictures, and personal references. The important thing is that you help them understand what abuse is and how to respond if they feel it may be happening to them. By teaching kids about abuse and sexual harassment, you’ll help them be able to both identify it and come forward if, at all, it ever does happen. Some key things you can teach them include knowing what their private parts are and that they shouldn’t be touched by anyone, giving them tips for safe places and letting them know that it is okay to say no. It may take a boost of confidence to get them to the point that they’re comfortable enough to confidently say no, however, with time and teaching them to constantly communicate how they feel, you can build such confidence.
Spend Quality Time with Them
The importance of spending quality with your children cannot be emphasized enough. There are studies that show that there are links between quality parent time and positive outcomes for kids. Quality time could include taking walks, having dinner with the kids, playing games with them, and indulging in dessert. When you do this, you may find that they begin to talk to you more and feel far more comfortable around you. As a result, you may find that they’re ready to open up about sensitive issues that are making them feel vulnerable and you can find ways to help them address it.
Be Responsible for Transporting Them Around
Abuse can happen in moments you least expect it, so being vigilant and not leaving any opportunity for it to happen is key. One of the ways that you can do this is by being responsible for transporting them around. Where possible, try and reduce the occurrences where other people pick your child up or drop them off at places as it’s a perfect opportunity for them to take advantage. Some of the children who are most vulnerable to abuse are said to be those who are disabled, orphans, and those from marginalized groups. If, for instance, you have a disabled child, you should consider finding handicap vehicles for sale and buying one that you can use to take your child around as opposed to leaving it to other people or sources.
Listen to What They Say
Kids are usually brutally honest, so listening to what they have to say is key in knowing what’s going on with them. You should try and avoid invalidating the thoughts and concerns that they share otherwise, they may be reluctant to share with you again. Building trust in children is just as important as it is to build it with adults. By making them feel secure, they will be more comfortable talking to you in both exciting and more challenging times. Many children suffer ongoing abuse because they reported it and nobody took it seriously. Telling a child that they’re lying or making stories up when they’re sharing a moment as intimate as abuse could make them feel alone and rejected. You should, therefore, always try and hear what they have to say and make it your duty to get to the bottom of it.
The world that we live in is often unfair, and unfortunately, people don’t always get justice when bad things happen to them. However, in order to prevent the prevalence of bad things such as abuse in the first place, you should try and make educating your kids and protecting them to the best of your abilities of utmost importance. There are many ways to approach this objective and at the foundation of all of them is building an open line of communication between yourself and your child. When you do so, you may find that your kids are more open and as a result, you’re able to stop abuse before it begins.
Posted by Sandra On February - 22 - 2018Comments Off on 4 Ways You Can Start Helping Others Today
Doing good deeds in this world doesn’t have to be a complicated process. All it takes is a willingness to reach out and desire to do whatever it takes to make sure others are doing well. You should also feel like you’re empowered to help and improve someone else’s day or life and that you don’t need a reason to do so.
It’s great that you want to make a difference, but maybe you don’t know where to start. Be glad to know there are many ways you can begin lending assistance today. Learn more about how to make a dent in the lives of others and then get to work.
Volunteer your Time
If you’re someone looking for a more fulfilling lifestyle, then you may consider volunteering. Block out time on your schedule after work or on the weekends. All it takes is finding one or two activities that you enjoy doing and where you know your hard work will make an impact. Check out programs in your community or sign up to travel to other destinations where assistance is needed. The best part is that you can dedicate as much or little time as you want.
Be Choosy about your Career
It’s possible you’re in a dead end career that doesn’t make you excited to get out of bed each day. If this is you, then it’s time for a change. Review helpful career content on a site like job descriptions and start learning more about jobs that will bring you the satisfaction you’re looking for. There are many positions that require you to work with and help other people. Take your time educating yourself, so you’re confident when making your next move.
Pay Attention in your Daily Life
Helping people doesn’t have to be a formal occasion. You can do so when you’re in the grocery store, walking in your neighborhood or at church. Look around and pay attention to who’s around you and if there’s an elderly person or child who may need your help while you’re out and about. Instead of working with your head down at the office, walk around and get to know people and let them know you’re available if they ever have questions. Help people by being kind, considerate and friendly in all interactions.
Fundraise
Another great way to help people is to fundraise. Pick a cause that’s close to you and that you’re passionate about and start letting people know what you’re up to. A great way to bring awareness to your campaign is to run or walk in a race and have people sponsor you. You have to put yourself out there and make sure your friends, family and the public are aware of what you’re doing and why you’re fundraising if you want to hit your goals.
Conclusion
Never let others tell you that you can’t make a difference or that you shouldn’t waste your time trying. Pick a few ways that get you excited about helping people and show the world what you’re capable of doing. Know that even small gestures can create a better place for everyone to live.
Posted by Sandra On January - 7 - 2018ADD COMMENTS
Bullying: Experts share advice for parents, students
Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception, by the bully or by others, of an imbalance of social or physical power. Behaviors used to assert such domination can include verbal harassment or threat, physical assault or coercion, and such acts may be directed repeatedly towards particular targets. Rationalizations for such behavior sometimes include differences of social class, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, behavior, body language, personality, reputation, lineage, strength, size or ability. If bullying is done by a group, it is called mobbing. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
Types of Bullying
There are three types of bullying:
Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
Teasing
Name-calling
Inappropriate sexual comments
Taunting
Threatening to cause harm
Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
Leaving someone out on purpose
Telling other children not to be friends with someone
Spreading rumors about someone
Embarrassing someone in public
Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
Hitting/kicking/pinching
Spitting
Tripping/pushing
Taking or breaking someone’s things
Making mean or rude hand gestures
Where and When Bullying Happens
Bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like on the playground or the bus. It can also happen travelling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the Internet.
Frequency of Bullying
There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:
The 2010–2011 School Crime Supplement (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) indicates that, nationwide, 28% of students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying.
The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 20% of students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying.Research on cyberbullying is growing. However, because kids’ technology use changes rapidly, it is difficult to design surveys that accurately capture trends.
The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that every seven minutes a child is bullied. Bullying became a household term in the 2000’s after the issue rose to national prominence in the wake of tragic stories of children and teenagers who had taken their lives because they were being picked on in school. Bullying is defined as repeated unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance, according to StopBullying.gov. Although countless nonprofit organizations and school programs have sprouted up to tackle the issue, it seems bullying is not going away. READ MORE HERE
A 501 (c) 3 Corporation Offering *Awareness *Education *Training *Resources *Healing for Schools, Workplaces, & Communities
ABUSE BITES is a non-profit organization educates the public on bullying. They are the ABC’s to stopping Abuse, Bullying, Violence, and Poverty — The Abuse Bites Corporation, helping kids, teens, adults, families, and entire communities be a safer, healthier, and productive. Founded in 2005 by lifelong Abuse Survivor, Lisa Freeman–a middle school drop out, abused runaway, who suffered through two horrifically abusive marriages. Yet at 26, this single mother, went on to college and overcame every obstacle in her path to reclaim her life. Today she’s an Award Winning Author, Speaker, the Healing Projects Specialist for the Bully Police USA, and a Certified Pet Therapist & Dog Trainer.
Abuse Bites & A Time to Heal work to raise awareness and educatecommunities on abuse, bullying and violence prevention to bring equality and healing to all humanity through writing, speaking, teaching, and pet therapy. Our goal is to encourage others to be the CHANGE, so we can CHANGE HEARTS & SAVE LIVES. Abuse Bites & A Time To Heal came together in 2006 after Lisa Freeman saw the devastation and effects of bullying/abuse not only in her own family and pets, but in the entire USA & World. She began doing extensive research and put the Abuse Bites educational program together to offer healing and hope, had her curriculum approved, and began speaking in schools, libraries, churches and work places all over Michigan.
What Statistics Say
1 out of 10 kids are bullied on a regular basis
40 % of all teens/kids are Cyber Bullied
In 85% of all Playground Bullying there is no intervention
160,000 kids miss school every day for fear of bullying
1 teen dies every 1/2 hour in the USA from bullying/bullycide
Kids who are obese, gay, or have disabilities are 63% more likely to be bullied than others
86% of people in the workforce experience bullying, a whopping 71.5 million, & most of them fear speaking up
PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BULLYING: www.abusebites.com
Ugly Ted may not be your typical looking teddy bear, but with a beautiful inner soul and lovable heart, he is as adorable and desirable as any of the other teddies out there.
Ugly Ted is truly tired of being bullied, harassed and made to feel lonely. While other “prettier” teddy bears are treated with love and respect, Ugly Ted can only dream of feeling accepted and being apart of a family.
“Ugly bears need love too, as they are not ugly inside. No matter what someone looks like, or where they are from, always remember to treat others the way you would want to be treated”, Ugly Ted says.
It’s now up to us to protect bullying victims like Ugly Ted and shower them with the much needed love they deserve.
Please give Ugly Ted a home and a hug by opening your heart and sharing tender loving care! Help make this world a little more beautiful!
World’s ugliest teddy bear and anti-bullying advocate. The newest innovation in kid’s toys, Ugly Ted’s unique philosophy emphasizes inner beauty and is a child’s new best friend, as well as their greatest teacher.
Mission
Fully dedicated to creating a more caring world for today’s youth, Ugly Ted is donating a portion of its proceeds to many different charities.
Posted by Sandra On December - 6 - 2017ADD COMMENTS
How to Effectively Raise Awareness for a Cause
Whether it is the fight against cyberbullying or a new movement to help victims of abuse get the help they need, one of the first – and perhaps the most important – steps to take is raising awareness. All stakeholders must be aware of the social movement or the cause for it to be effective. This means reaching out to victims, loved ones, community members, and agents of change in an effective way.
Thanks to social media and the internet in general, it is much easier to raise awareness for a cause. The same instruments can be used to target specific communities or a particular area too. You just have to know the steps to take in order to effectively raise awareness for a cause.
Focus on Continuity
Make continuity a focus from the beginning. Unlike advertising, raising awareness for a cause means building up support. Raising awareness is never a one-time thing; it is actually a continuous effort that will become in momentum as you invest more time, money, and energy into it.
Continuity is also important for amplifying that awareness. In the beginning, you will be spending most of your time reaching out to key opinion leaders and influencers in the community. As the campaign progresses, you can shift your energy towards working with a wider audience and maintaining traction.
Don’t forget to build a community around the cause too. Community building is an effective way to maintain the generated momentum by gaining the support of like-minded and engaged members. The rest of the movement will be easier from this point.
Use Valuable and Educational Content
There is a reason why even top law firms use LawBiz and their law firm newsletter as a way to connect with the communities around them. Law is a complicated industry and delivering educational content through newsletters allow law firms to engage their stakeholders in a more effective way.
The same approach can be adopted in the case of raising awareness for a cause. Instead of promoting the movement itself, try to share more educational content about the cause. In the case of cyberbullying, for instance, a series of newsletters about dealing with cyberbullying or identifying cases of bullying on the internet will be very valuable to the readers.
Get the Audience Involved
Not every audience can come to the events and gatherings for the cause, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get involved altogether. Share contents from the offline gatherings and other activities conducted for the cause in order to get a wider audience invested in the movement.
There are challenges to overcome when using this strategy. For starters, you have to get the permission of everyone involved before you can safely share sensitive materials online. You also need to produce high quality photos and videos for them to be attractive and compelling.
Overcome the challenges, however, and you have a very powerful awareness-raising tool at your disposal. Soon, you will experience the snowball effect and your cause will gain a lot of traction at an incredible speed. Once you have reached that point, you will have the ability to do so much more and help more people around you.
Posted by Sandra On November - 1 - 2017ADD COMMENTS
How would you know a person is “toxic?” What about them or their behaviors would signal to you that they are toxic? A toxic person is someone who makes you feel a way that you are not, who undermines and mistreats you, and who may come across as kind to others, but is truly manipulative and evil. A toxic person is someone who “infects” (like a disease) your thoughts, emotions, feelings, and behaviors in ways that are not good. They may be envious of you, they may try to limit or undermine you, or they may simply ignore any kind of progress you make. A toxic person can be anyone, even a person with a mental health challenge, a close friend, a confidant, and/or a family member. If you are like most people in society, you will find it almost impossible to spot and detach from a toxic person because they can come across as charming, kind, and trustworthy. FIND OUT HOW TO ESCAPE TOXIC PEOPLE HERE
Posted by Sandra On October - 4 - 2017ADD COMMENTS
Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, group, or organization. It may include false accusations, defamation, slander and libel. It may also include monitoring, identity theft, threats, vandalism, solicitation for sex, or gathering information that may be used to threaten, embarrass or harass.
Cyberstalking is often accompanied by real-time or offline stalking. In many jurisdictions, such as California, both are criminal offenses. Both are motivated by a desire to control, intimidate or influence a victim. A stalker may be an online stranger or a person whom the target knows. He may be anonymous and solicit involvement of other people online who do not even know the target.
Cyberstalking is a criminal offense under various state anti-stalking, slander and harassment laws. A conviction can result in a restraining order, probation, or criminal penalties against the assailant, including jail.
How to deal with all forms of online harassment
There are a number of terms to describe online harassment including cyber bullying, cyber stalking and also trolling. Is there any real difference between these terms? In short the answer is NO. The term I prefer to use to describe all persons engaged in online harassment is cyber stalking. The term cyber bully does not really describe either the type of people or harassment activities they engage in online and is strongly identified with younger people. When you search for a definition of the two you will find the primary distinction made is one of age. If adults are involved then it is termed cyber stalking. When children and young adolescents are involved then it is termed cyber bullying. Legally speaking the law also does not view them differently other than taking into account the legal age of the persons involved. READ MORE HERE
Nearly all states have bullying laws in place, many with cyberbullying or electronic harassment provisions. This article covers cyberbullying in the context of criminal law. See Specific StateLaws Against Bullying and What to Do If Your Child is Bullied to learn more.
Posted by Sandra On September - 28 - 2017ADD COMMENTS
Preventing child abuse can be difficult, especially since we feel often helpless against widespread abuse. So we created this one-stop guide to promote child abuse prevention by compiling a complete list of resources as an information gateway. We have included tips to educate adults and children, information about the different causes and forms of abuse, and how to respond when you suspect child abuse.
I was abused as a child but was able to rise above my troublesome past to become a functioning adult. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to overcome a painful childhood, and as a result of their abuse, many children grow into insecure, dysfunctional adults. As a father of two small children, I wanted to make sure to end the cycle of abuse. I know the importance of teaching my children how to protect themselves by educating them on what is okay, and what is not okay.
There are no easy answers, but hopefully, this guide can help you spot child abuse, such as the shaken baby syndrome, or spot children that have been neglected, provide information about prevention programs, and learn the steps to report the abuse to child welfare services. READ MORE HERE
Posted by Sandra On September - 14 - 2017ADD COMMENTS
Suicide attempts among young adults between the ages of 21 and 34 have risen alarmingly, a new study warns. Among people over 21, the rate of suicide attempts rose 21.5 percent, increasing ‘significantly’ from 2004 to 2013. Suicide attempts are up across the board in the US, but young adults with lower education levels are at especially high risk. Deaths from suicide are on the rise as well, but not as dramatically as suicide attempts. Researchers from Columbia University think that economic and career instability may be leading more young adults to attempt suicide than ever. READ MORE HERE
DREAMCATCHERS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN, INC. is an official non-profit 501(c)3 child abuse & neglect organization. Our mission is to educate the public on all aspects of child abuse such as symptoms, intervention, prevention, statistics, reporting, and helping victims locate the proper resources necessary to achieve a full recovery. We also cover areas such as bullying, teen suicide & prevention, children\'s rights, child trafficking, missing & exploited children, online safety, and pedophiles/sex offenders.
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