If you feel that your community has a need for a support center for SA survivors, you may consider forming one.

The Wellness Community, providing support facilities for those affected by cancer, has mushroomed throughout the USA. These centers offer cancer patients and their caregivers an excellent opportunity for learning and sharing their burdens. Medical studies have proven that such support strengthens the immune system, helping to fight disease.

A model for SA survivor support groups is Connections, located in Cincinnati. Rebecca Born, advisory board member of this foundation, can give guidance to those interested in establishing such a center.

One of the goals of this foundation is to develop a pamphlet explaining sexual abuse and its potential future health outcomes. Our plan is to encourage distribution of this pamphlet to SA support centers, to high school seniors, and to university students. By the age of 18, 20-30 percent of women in America have been sexually abused.

Early intervention is important: physical, social, and mental problems can be prevented! This pamphlet is currently in development.

Although this foundation’s purpose does not include trying to toughen laws against sexual offenders, we realize that some survivors may wish to become involved in this area.

In Ohio, Nicole’s law, named after Nicole Robertson, increased jail time for sexual offenders. In November of 2005 nine-year-old Nicole was confronted by a man who exposed himself to her in a department store. She immediately told her mother who alerted authorities in time to catch him before he left the store. Her parents testified before the Ohio senate and state representative Gary Cates sponsored the bill, which became law in 2006.

Other similar laws have been enacted in many states. For a listing of what laws your state has to punish and regulate sexual offenders, type your state, laws, and sexual offenders into your browser. For a listing of your state senators or state representatives, enter your state and “senator” or “representative”. You can write or call to let them know about your concerns.

Sexual abuse is one of the worst crimes and laws should be strict enough to discourage offenders.