Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2813

Tonight's special guest is Patricia (Trish) McKnight from Breese, Illinois, a returning NAASCA family member who says, "Today I am a thousand miles away from the person my parents created in their forced slavery, destructive neglect, and constant violence fueled by mental illness and substance abuse." Trish lived the journey of survival patterns filled with drug use, alcohol, attempted suicide, parenting challenges; the constant chaos and life altering injuries that plagued more than thirty years of her life. Her history of relationships followed the pattern of tolerance until she took one last true chance to save her life. It was twenty years ago when she left her last abusive relationship to break the cycle and give her children a better home, a peaceful sense of life; a chance to create their own identity. Seeing the lasting impact they suffered, and then how her grandchildren were being affected, she began focusing her energy towards researching the connections between the traumas and the survivor's life patterns. Today she runs 'Butterfly Dreams Alliance', a community outreach charitable organization providing awareness, education and assistance for those affected by abuse, violence, sexual harm and human trafficking. Services are growing throughout the country. "Now we have a chance to live and thrive in a safe, empowering environment," she says. Trish is a voice in policy, standards of care, training law enforcement, healthcare, educators, and community members to recognize, report, and respond with trauma informed knowledge. A Regional Ambassador of NAASCA, Trish is also a member of Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force, End Demand Illinois, and collaborates with resources throughout her home state