Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 3266

Tonight's special guest is Brandie Olesen from the San Francisco area in California, a child abuse survivor whose traumatic experiences began as an infant. Placed in foster care at 3, she spent 16 years in and out of multiple counties, placements, homes and levels of sexual, physical, emotional and verbal abuse. "I started questioning the story of my life and the validity of the allegations and claims I had been told and read about in the few reports I had gathered from my past life," she says. Last year Brandie spent almost 10 months paying for back ground checks, calling state agencies, local agencies, county agencies and filing three different police reports. "I had to step away at the beginning of the year due to emotional exhaustion and distress, lack of support or advocacy, disappointment at the very sketchy approach law enforcement took in the few counties I filed reports in." Brandie goes on, "I decided to open some emails from my prior years research about my childhood. I forgot that I was emailed digital copies of photos I had given to an investigative journalist who ended up being unable or unwilling to help." When she zoomed in on the images she found some disturbing evidence of a traumatic event that effected multiple individuals (adults, children, a dog). "I have been in shock and struggling to find access to recourses, terminology, case studies, reforms etc." Brandie understands that the system is busy helping the children currently within it, but finds it hard to let go of her need to understand what happened, why there are no reports, records, medical proof or information. "This is something I didn't know about my life or myself until just last month." She feels lost and in need of support, direction and guidance.