Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2731

Tonight's special guest is Pam Geoffroy from Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, a child abuse survivor and an early years practitioner at Timiskaming Child Care Early Years Centre which provides a safe, positive learning environment for children and their families, respecting their cultural and linguistic differences. The agency's goal is to provide programs and services that will help promote the optimal growth and development of children. Pam was molested beginning at age 9 by a male friend of her aunt. "As soon as I was able, age 16," she says, "I moved out of the house. I was depressed and suicidal but determined to get out. I left for the summer and returned in the fall, when school started. I left again the following spring and was living on my own before my high school graduation." One can guess wat happened next. "I abused drugs and alcohol, and lived in a physically abusive relationship, but worked two and three jobs to be able to stay out of the family home. At age 18 I began to attend counselling. I wanted to protect others, so talked about it to anyone who would listen." Pam took her perpetrator to court. "At age 36 I found out he had molested several of my cousins, and it was then that I pressed charges. It took 2 years + to get through the court system, and it cost me some family members who choose to side with him and my mother, or who didn't want to ‘rock the boat.'" He was not convicted but that didn't stop Pam from serving the community. "I love working with families and children. And my passions include child abuse prevention and empowering women."