Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2901

Tonight's special guest is Paul Howard from Studio City, California, a child abuse survivor who's a filmmaker, artist and activist. He loosely uses his own story in his newest film, 'Tomorrow', an award winning short film, written and directed by Karis Campbell. It now includes an 'Epilogue' companion piece where the two, along with child safety educator, Pattie Fitzgerald, discuss the film and its themes further. "We also discuss my experiences as a victim of abuse," Paul says, "and my journey into becoming a survivor." Paul discusses how 90% of abusers are someone we know. Children are taught stranger danger leaving them vulnerable, making it more difficult to come forward when it is the couch, teach or someone who sits at the dinner table. Paul himself, a brother and all the other children were abused violently in a multitude of ways at the daycare he was placed in from 6 months old until age 12. He talks of how it was a culture of fear, and he gives an honest and heartfelt reflection of how he thought the abuse was a norm because it was all he had known. He goes on to say, "It's important that we understand what a man goes through as a survivor. The first step is to be able to talk about it." Paul courageously brings forth a hard truth, those we trust and love can be our abusers too. "We must teach children to trust that inner feeling that says something doesn't feel right." As a man who is healing and recovered from his trauma he wants survivors to understand you too can heal and arrive at a good place in life. The film is wonderfully made, bringing forth so much insight on keeping our kids safe. "Telling is healing."