December Updates
RESOURCES FOR RESILIENCE
Tomorrow marks one year since the December 2021 tornado devastated the Purchase Area. Natural disasters generate significant stressors for individuals, families, and communities. Research demonstrates an increase in the prevalence and severity of interpersonal violence, including child abuse and sexual violence, following these events. Our Lotus team responded quickly and collaboratively alongside our partners in law enforcement, DCBS, prosecution, healthcare, and other sectors. As recovery continues, and as we learn about and understand the long-term impact of the tornado, we celebrate the strengthening of regional partnerships and the resilience of our Fulton, Graves, and Marshall communities.
Tips for Families on Addressing the Anniversary
of a Traumatic Event
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
This tip sheet offers parents and caregivers information about ways that children may respond to the anniversary of a traumatic event, including what to look for before the anniversary of an event, who might need special support, and how they can support their families.
Sexual Violence in Disasters
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Explore the connections between sexual violence and disasters, the inequities that shape them both, the lessons to be learned from the resilience of survivors and their communities, and opportunities for all of us to prevent sexual violence before, during, and after disasters.
IN THE NEWS: THE LOTUS HOPE HEAL GROW MOBILE
Lotus and CASA by the Lakes staff stand in front of the Hope Heal Grow Mobile on November 29. Photo courtesy of Hawkins Teague, Murray Ledger & Times.
The Hope Heal Grow Mobile, our mobile children’s advocacy center, visited our partners at CASA by the Lakes last week. Learn more about how the Hope Heal Grow Mobile is increasing access to specialized services for child victims of abuse and their supportive family members from the Murray Ledger & Times, WKMS, or on our blog.
LOTUS IS HIRING!
Lotus is seeking a therapist to join our team. Therapists serve to facilitate healing and recovery from interpersonal violence for all-age victim-survivors as well as their supportive family members through the provision of specialized, trauma-informed, and culturally competent mental health services. View the full job posting including requirements, benefits, and how to apply on our website.
DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING
SUPPORT SURVIVORS
Let’s Get Grounded: A Toolkit for Survivors
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence
Grounding exercises are a technique that can help keep someone in the present. They help reorient a person to the here-and-now. Check out this toolkit with tips and exercises for physical, mental, and soothing grounding. View the toolkit.
Lean On Me: A Caregiver’s Guide to Safeguarding Children and Supporting Healing from Sexual Abuse
Children often don’t have the words to disclose that they have been sexually abused, or choose to remain silent because they fear they won’t be believed. This series, a collaboration between RAINN and No Limit Generation, is designed to inform, guide, and educate caregivers to safeguard children from online and in-person grooming, help create a safe space to support and validate a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse, and be a healing presence for them in the event sexual abuse has occurred. View the video series.
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES
2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book
Check out the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being in your county. This resource shows whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. View the book.
Resources for Kentucky Dads
Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky has launched Kentucky Dads, a web-based resource for Kentucky dads and fatherhood providers, researchers, and policy makers. If you are a provider of services geared towards fathers in Kentucky, please complete the Provider survey. If you are a dad, please take the Kentucky Dads survey, which aims to collect your feedback on services available in your community.
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
Reflections on the History of the Anti-Violence Movement
Take a look into the history of the anti-violence movement in this article from PreventConnect’s David Lee. Read more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 6-10, 2023: Children’s Advocacy Week
Hosted by Kentucky Youth Advocates | Virtual & In-Person
SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, April 15, 2023: Men Who Cook
Hosted by Lotus | Commonwealth Event Center, Paducah, KY
