New resources and outreach events announced
Lauren’s Kids will announce new resources and outreach events in recognition of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April. Advocates, allies, survivors and communities around the nation can help bring an end to child sexual abuse by taking advantage of the new educational resources launching next week.
“The topics of child abuse and sexual assault can be scary and uncomfortable to talk about, but until we shatter the stigma that surrounds them, children and adults will continue to suffer in silence,” said Senator Lauren Book, founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids. “We think ‘no one in my life is experiencing abuse – I would know,’ but in reality, one in three girls and one in five boys will become a victim of sexual abuse, and 45 percent of kids don’t tell anyone for at least five years. With education, awareness, and advocacy, we can prevent abuse and make sure survivors know that it’s OK to tell – and it’s OK to heal.”
New resources and outreach events include:
42 Hours for 42 Million Advocacy Event
Lauren’s Kids will take over the Florida Capitol April 2 – 4, 2019, for a 42+ hour continuous, non-stop, day and night walking advocacy event to honor the 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse who live in the United States today. The walk follows Lauren’s Kids eight-year statewide “Walk in My Shoes” walk tradition, which has welcomed advocates, community leaders, allies, survivors and more to walk 1,500 miles from Tallahassee to Key West. The kick off for the 42-hour continuous walk will take place on April 2, on the plaza level of the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee at 11:45 a.m. The entire 42+ hour walk will be livestreamed on Facebook.com/LaurensKids. To learn more, or to sign up for a 15-minute shift, click here.
The Journey Home – Hurricane Michael Recovery for Children’s Advocacy Center
To help child sexual abuse survivors and trauma therapists in the Florida Panhandle grappling with the destruction caused by Hurricane Michael, Lauren’s Kids will begin their renovation of the therapy house at the Gulf Coast Child Advocacy Center in Panama City, Fla., where child victims of sexual assault receive trauma therapy. The renovations are part of Lauren’s Kids’ new for-television awareness program, “The Journey Home.” Gulf Coast Child Advocacy Center serves children and families regardless of their ability to pay by providing trauma informed counseling, specialized therapy, support for families, guidance through the legal process, and community awareness and education. The renovation project is expected to be completed in May.
PSA on CBS Stations Nationwide
Lauren’s Kids’ will launch a new television public service announcement, on CBS stations nationwide during the month of April as part of the CBS Cares campaign.
New FREE Resources for Parents – Safer, Smarter Families Activity Packs
In the United States, one in three girls and one in five boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Yet, 95 percent of child sexual abuse is preventable through awareness and education. Lauren’s Kids is committed to ensuring parents and caregivers have the tools they need to prevent instances of child sexual abuse and will be releasing its “Blueprint for Building Safer, Smarter Families,” a free comprehensive and interactive activity pack to teach children the basics of personal safety. Adults receive their own “parent pack” to use with their child, while kids follow along in their own workbook complete with crossword puzzles, word searches, crafts, roleplay scenarios, games and other entertaining activities. Six different activity books covering building safe relationships, building safe communication, building physical safety, building personal safety, building a plan for safety and building safety in the digital world. Packs will be available for order at no cost to Florida parents at shop.laurenskids.org.
Lauren Book, M.S. ED, founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, is an internationally-recognized child protection advocate, best-selling author and Florida State Senator who works every day to protect childhood. She is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, suffered at the hands of a trusted caretaker from the time she was 10 until the age of 16. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education and awareness, Lauren has worked to turn her horrific personal experience into a vehicle to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help other survivors heal.
An official 501(c)(3) since 2007, Lauren’s Kids educates adults and children about sexual abuse prevention through in-school curricula, ADDY and EMMY Award-winning public awareness campaigns and speaking engagements around the country and the world. The organization provides more than 8 million direct mail education and awareness materials statewide. The foundation has helped advocate for the passage of nearly two dozen laws to support survivors and protect children from predators. For more information, please visit laurenskids.org.
