When I was growing up, I learned about different family members who had been victims of child molestation. As an adult, I realize that this type of abuse is not something unique to my family. I was not a victim, but I have been impacted by many. As of today, I know 24 adult survivors personally and the number continues to increase. I have found the more I talk about child molestation, the more I learn that this issue is prevalent everywhere. Victims unintentionally affect their friends, family and almost everyone they encounter in their lives. The emotional damage the abuse causes to victims, survivors and all of their affiliates is traumatic and can affect people for the majority of their lives. God placed the desire in my heart to start a nonprofit organization for children who have been victims of abuse.
According to the Illinois Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS), there were 147,429 child victim reports made in 2022 from families and 145,393 in 2023.1 There were also 5,928 child victim reports made in 2022 from facilities and 6,371 in 2023. Unfortunately, as much as 70% of child abuse goes unreported and a child tells an average of seven adults that they are being abused or neglected before a report is made.2 These statistics need to change.
Advocate for the Innocent is on a mission to create awareness about the prevalence of child molestation and abuse, and to do everything in our power to prevent it. One of our goals is to hear from 1M survivors and/or affiliates. As we share our stories, others will be more comfortable sharing their stories and together we can crush the silence. So many victims, survivors and affiliates feel ashamed, but it is not warranted. There was no participation in the offenses, it was done TO you not BECAUSE OF you.
I want to share as much of my story as possible, but I also want to protect the privacy of the survivors. I have been affected by family members who are survivors of child molestation and abuse. The emotional damage that stems from abuse can lead to unhealthy relationships. It is difficult to break off family relationships for so many reasons. The choice to walk away may not be an option so the unhealthy behavior and relationships continue, and some may last for a lifetime. I believe some of the unhealthy choices I made in my life were a result of those unhealthy relationships. I affected others around me because of the emotional damage I was carrying.
Through counseling and various support systems, I have learned to set boundaries and God has given me every resource to have healthy relationships today. I want to encourage others that they can experience the same and I want to encourage you to get help today if you are a victim, survivor or affiliate. Please share your story with me at renee@advocatefortheinnocent.org so we can help others crush their silence and shame.