Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1231

Tonight's special guest is Debra Monk from Enfield, New Hampshire, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse from multiple perpetrators over several years throughout her early childhood and into her early teens. She's now become an anti-abuse advocate who's now writing a series of children's books addressing a topic that's close to her heart. "Most of my abusers were direct or close family members," Debra says. She explains the new book series for children touches on the tough but important topic of family violence and abuse, and what that might look like through the eyes and perspective of a child. That's because Debra eventually came to understand that there was a systematic cycle of abuse within her family that had already been going on for many generations. "I'll address family violence, such as domestic and intimate partner violence, sibling abuse, sexual abuse, incest, neglect and physical abuse. Abuse and malnourishment can create patterns and characteristics that when, if not dealt with appropriately may cause repeated cycles or systems of family violence and abuse to occur later on and well into their adulthood lives." Debra's published before. Her work "A Journey of Poetry from an Adult Survivor of Sexual Abuse" is available as an e-book and author Caroline De Chavigny included Debra's missive in her book, "Letter to a Monster." Debra says her mission and goal is to create positive change that reduces the risk for violence in already broken and volatile homes.