North County Rape Crisis & Child Protection Center

Please share with any Veteran you may know in the area.

Hero? Angel? Advocate? Yes. And much, much more. We are so proud that one of our very own gets a little recognition of her dedication and compassion for her work to make things a bit better for the people she has graciously served across this country. We must also recognize Doreen Ross, Sabrina's mother and a volunteer with us for....well, forever? You, Sabrina and the rest of your family are the light of compassion that we need in our community. Thank you for being part of us.

Healing Tuesday Breathe. The sun will set and the sun will rise. Breathe.

Male Abuse Awareness Monday Aaron Stone A Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army and combat veteran, Aaron has transformed his childhood trauma into a mission to help fellow survivors.... A Sergeant Major and combat medic in the United States Army, Aaron has done three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and another mission in war-ravaged Bosnia. Yet he will tell you that none of those experiences affected him as much as the trauma he suffered at age 15, at the hands of a high school teacher who methodically groomed him and then raped him. And Aaron will also tell you that he chooses the word rape deliberately because it conveys the reality of what was done to him. Days after the rape, the teacher sent Aaron a letter, apologizing for an unnamed transgression. Aaron threw the letter into the trash. His mother found the letter and questioned Aaron about what had happened, but he denied that anything inappropriate had happened. Like virtually all abused children, he internalized the shame. The rape drove Aaron further into a private shell. It was a secret he kept from everyone. He graduated high school and went straight into the Army, trained as a medic, and climbed the ranks as an effective soldier. But the cost of keeping the secret caught up with Aaron in 2010. Thankfully, he sought help from the Army’s behavioral health program, and for the first time in his life he disclosed what had happened to him as a child. It was an act of liberation. Although nearly two decades had passed since the rape, Aaron decided to report the crime to the local police department. Days later he was stunned when the detective told him that the man who raped him was in jail. Aaron’s account had been corroborated by records at the local school board. Those records documented that, unbeknownst to Aaron, his mother had brought the teacher’s letter of apology to the school board, and the board had forced the teacher’s resignation. https://youtu.be/q202UJqvNd8

Folks...this woman right here...she’s a WARRIOR and we are honored she’s chosen us this year!

Healing Tuesday It can not be ignored how much additional stress every one feels this year. The Holiday's have their own level of stress, and this year - well, it's this year, can only add to our anxiety. However, the need to take care of ourselves first has not changed. What ever your traditions and what new traditions you will start, will only happen if you take care of you. Pay attention to your body and how it feels. Pay attention to your sleep and dreams. Pay atten...tion to your expectations of you. Breathe. We are here to listen. 24 Hour Support Line: 805-736-7273

For our locals that follow us. Please share.

Male Abuse Awareness Monday From 1 in 6 "It is not your fault" It is the most powerful thing you can say to a survivor. ... 24 Hour Support Line: 805-736-7273

Young teens - male and female - want to be older and feel needed or search out validation. This is a common scenario where a teen can find themselves overwhelmed and ashamed and decide all they can do is run away. Talk to your teen and make sure they understand that you will understand and help them in any situation. 24 Hour Support Line: 805-736-7273... https://youtu.be/NzKLcvUQAqA

Wednesday's Wisdom Perpetrators have more success coming into your living room than stalking your child at Walmart. Perpetrators groom children in order to be trafficked, but there are perpetrators that you may call a friend or family member that will also groom your child online by playing games and having secret conversations with the child. They gain the child's trust and eventually manipulate them into situations where they are abused or tricked into running away with the perpetrator where they can be trafficked.

Healing Tuesday We refer to this behavior as the 3 'D's'. Denial, Disbelief and Discounting. You are immediately invalidated. You are told your experience, how you are feeling, and your perceptions are wrong or did not happen. When this happens a person shuts down. You start to doubt yourself and your feelings. We are here to talk anytime. Your feelings, and experiences are important. ... 24 Hour Support Line: 805-736-7273

Thank you to the "The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Netsmarz videos. 24 Hour Support Line: 805-736-7273 Report online Child Exploitation on the cyber tipline or call: ... 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) See more

Male Abuse Awareness Monday From 1 in 6 Website Expectations Men Face... Experiences of sexual abuse or assault can affect you to your core who you are, how you understand yourself as a man and a human being. Many men who’ve been sexually abused or assaulted fear their masculinity has been compromisedlike they’re not a real maneven if no one knows about what happened or thinks twice about their masculinity. Why? Having unwanted sexual experiences means being: Sexually used or dominated Vulnerable Overwhelmed Flooded by intense emotions These experiences and feelings run opposite to how males are commonly socialized and encouraged to be. Men’s confidence and self-esteem can greatly depend on how manly they feel, and how manly they believe other men and women see them as being.