Success is in the Small Numbers

Big numbers can capture people’s attention.

As an advocate for prevention, I spend the majority of my time trying to capture people’s attention.

Because prevention isn’t built into the fabric of our community, it doesn’t really have a place. In order to change this, I am trying to capture people’s attention so that more and more people can help embed prevention practices into our society.

So that children will be better protected.

It is pretty common to use big and shocking numbers to to help demonstrate the impact and urgency of this gap in prevention.

50% | 60% | 70% | 90%

Often, when I choose statistics and evidence to share, I look for big numbers. Or, in the case of the image below, a BIG list of consequence. To get people’s attention. And so we share outcomes that demonstrate how devastating child hood sexual abuse can be.

To get people’s attention.

We can get caught in a cycle of looking for the ‘worst’ numbers and the ‘worst’ outcomes.

This puts us all at risk of becoming numb to the problem.

Sometimes it is helpful to consider one person.

One Child

One Disclosure

Not too long ago we trained a summer camp staff team. Training staff is the heart of what we do at Priority Kids. Our goal is to eradicate child hood sexual abuse by training adults to prevent, recognize and keep kids safe from sexual abuse.

A few months after the summer season had ended, a member of the staff team reached out to us and told us that during the summer season, one of the camp counsellors had received a disclosure of abuse from a camper.

The feedback that we received was that the counsellor was able to recall details from our training, and was grateful for being trained.

One child. One disclosure.

Disclosure is a pivotal moment for a child. A moment of truth. A moment where the child discovers whether or not people will believe; whether or not the child will be protected; whether or not adults are equipped and willing to respond.

And disclosure does not come easily. Most child victims never report sexual abuse.

Sadly, their instincts to remain silent are encouraged by our community. The reactions and responses from untrained adults, unprepared family and friends, and even from professionals who are supposed to help, can end up being more hurtful and harmful than the abuse itself.

Secondary Wounding is well-documented and can have a devastating impact on healing and recovery.

When one child discloses abuse to one adult who is trained, that is a figure worth celebrating.

That is a number that inspires us to keep going.

We can think of all the big numbers and statistics, but it is really the story of one counsellor who received a disclosure and came away from that experience feeling PREPARED and COMPETENT.

One child who took a chance, told their story, and was believed.

Register for a Walk the Talk to learn about prevention practices can be embedded in your organization. The Walk the Talk service is free and confidential.

###

If the content of this article causes you distress or discomfort, please seek support.

Where to get help in Nova Scotia

Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868