Projects and Statistics
Male Abuse Awareness
The Youth Voice Initiative believes in the equal access to emergency shelter, support and services. Our goal is to ensure that the law is changed to accommodate these by adding an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act so that our abused men will have safe places to go when abused.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2fjRJssP0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1vx0X_siAI
YVI works with several different groups to promote healing and more so that our abused males will at least have SOME form of support until more is available. Please click the image below to go to the Surviving Spirit website. It's a wealth of information and more.
http://www.survivingspirit.com/
Support & Solace @ www.youandmecanstopbullies.com/
A Dedication TO THE MEMORY OF
Sean Michael Sowards
Sean was an angel in heaven. He never made it to his third birthday because he died at the hands of his mother.
Stats, Important Info, Help Books:
11 Reasons Why Males Don't Disclose Abuse
http://www.child-abuse-effects.com/male-victims-of-sexual-abuse.html
Potential Long-Term Effects of the Sexual Abuse of Males
http://www.jimhopper.com/male-ab/
The Effects of Child Abuse Depend on a Variety of Factors
http://www.speakupbesafe.org/parents/impact-of-abuse-neglect.pdf
Possible Lasting Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1544021
Factsheets: Male Rape
http://www.fcasv.org/sites/default/files/Male_Survivors_FS_0.pdf
The Strength of a Man
http://www.amazon.com/Strength-Man-Namid/dp/0982115067
Male Abuse Survivor Support in the UK
http://www.thehealingcenter.org/male-survivors.aspx
A New Perspective: the Unacknowledged Abuse Survivors
Statistics
Child Abuse Statistics
http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics
Cyber Bullying: Statistics and Tips
http://www.isafe.org/about?ch=op&sub_id=media_cyber_bullying
Escaping Hades: Facts and Statistics
http://pandys.org/escapinghades/statistics.html
Facts & Statistics: UCLA Medical Rape Treatment Center's
http://www.911rape.org/facts-quotes/statistics
1 in 4: Sexual Assault Statistics
http://www.oneinfourusa.org/statistics.php
Child Abuse Information
Child Abuse: The Respective Roles of the Sexes
http://fathersforlife.org/fv/child_abuse_roles_of_sexes.htm
About Amber Alerts
http://www.amberalert.gov/statistics.htm
Cyberbullying
http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying
Internet predators continue to multiply
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29793814/
Youth Internet Safety Survey
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/internet_2_2001/internet_2_01_6.html
Enough is Enough: Internet Safety
http://enough.org/inside.php?id=2UXKJWRY8
Books
Why Mothers Kill
http://books.google.com/books/about/Why_Mothers_Kill_A_Forensic_Psychologist.html?id=Yp9sosaS3ioC
Author and friend of Lika, Namid http://therapefoundation.org/ at
Vanilla Heart Publishing http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/Namid.html
helps to give survivors of rape counseling, inspiration, support, and so much more.
Some of her books are at the following links.
To Dance Amongst the Stars
http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Amongst-Stars-Namid/dp/0981473946
A Guide to Survivorhood
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Survivorhood-Namid/dp/0981473997
Secondary Survivors ~ Get a Signed Copy
www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=28561
Annual Report Year 11
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
With the decrease in available volunteers and a move, YVI's home office is in a new location, still in Racine, during the middle of the year, some of our scopes have changed slightly. If you, or anyone you know needs a letter written on your behalf for social services or the courts, please contact the founder to talk about the situation and how we may be able to help out.
Volunteers are always needed to help develop this curriculum both in text & workbook form, and hopefully, an eLearning edition will follow. Thank you for tuning in! Those interested in helping to keep this website updated are always welcome, also.
Please keep coming to the meetings! The more people we have coming regularly, the more we can get things done. Hope to see you soon!
For survivors who are having a difficult time writing a quality resume to land the job(s) they desire, please email lika.yvi@gmail.com - affordable rates to get your resumes through the ATF systems to at least get you an interview scheduled.
Lika's Law for Wisconsin: In Honor of April. Our original push for stiffer punishments on those who target and sexually assault our children on and offline did not make it out of the Committee of Criminal Justice and Corrections. Our children deserve better. Here, at YVI, we believe that those who sexually abuse children get let off too easily in too many instances.
Why We Need Harsher Sentencing!
Why do we need stiffer punishments? In too many instances, we consider children to be "property" of their parent or legal guardian. So, in instances where it is a family member or other trusted relative, all too often, the child is either returned into the same situation where they were sexually abused in the first place, or the perpetrator is given a light sentence.
Please refer to these articles, just in Racine, WI that deals with these light sentencing:
Why do we honor April?
The month of April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. This, along with a girl named April, who was the original inspiration to this piece of legislation, who was repeatedly raped at age 6 and contracted an STD. The perpetrator was sentenced to 12 months. 10 years after he was released, he was arrested again, for raping more children, and bragged at his court case that he'd assaulted at least 75 children, some as young as age 3. This time he got 10 years.
Lika's Law for Wisconsin in Honor of April wishes to ensure that those who sexually abuse children will NOT get off easy, as many of these articles show. It is unacceptable to use the victim's health record against the victim, nor is it acceptable to just toss the case out because of "uncooperative" behavior. Sex abuse is the most demeaning crime you can do onto another human being. To victimize further, but calling out the victim is only hurting them more. There are lifelong after-effects, such as PTSD, as well as deep scars that may affect the victim's mental health, safety, and security, as well as the ability to have a normal and healthy relationship with others, both platonic and romantic.
YVI's Special Interest
Our organization is deeply interested in helping abused males. Further is a collection of educational information compiled by the YVI to help build awareness to this forgotten about an aspect of our cause.
Some key messages for men who were sexually abused in childhood:
* You are not alone.
* You can educate yourself.
* Other guys struggle with their masculinity too.
* There are people who understand and can help.
YVI Accomplishment Timeline
Sean's Voice to be worded and given to legislators to ponder - 2014
April's Law Hearing: October 19, 2011
First Annual Board Meeting: July 29, 2010
Meeting with Local/State Legislators: June 28, 2010
1st Annual Report (extended to current) January 2010
Date of IRS Approval: June 4, 2009
Initial meetings w/ Legislators: January/February 2009
YVI Bylaws: August 19, 2008
Founded with Articles of Incorporation: May 5, 2008
Date of Foundation: May 2, 2008
Local Exemption: April 2008
EIN Approval: April 2008
Triumph - Fight the Good Fight
Little Sean, who was only two and a half, endured many things like having his big toenails ripped out of his feet and nail polish put in his eyes as punishment for unknown reasons.
Sean's Grandmother Elizabeth - https://www.facebook.com/seans.voice?ref=ts&fref=ts
Sean's Story as told by his Grandma Elizabeth -
https://www.facebook.com/notes/seans-voice/from-seans-voice-seans-story/114029078629021
A personal story by Sean's father, a domestic abuse victim -
http://www.myspace.com/seansvoice/blog/470127482
Sean’s Voice Petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/a-new-perspective-the-unacknowledged-abuse-survivors/
A petition was created in his memory
Where as; domestic violence, sexual abuse, and all other forms of abuse affect men as well as women,
Where As; services for such instances do not exist in any form what so ever,
Where as; men have less power to get the support and law behind them in times of abuse, and
Finally, where as; we need to be aware of the fact that victimization can be double for a male victim,
Therefore; we need to make aware that women and (female) children are not the only victims,
Therefore; specific shelters, hot-lines, counseling, etc need to be available for men by men,
Therefore; we need to equalize the dis-parody that affects abused men,
Finally, therefore; we will need extra education to all public servants and services to accommodate this,
So be it resolved that there be equity in services for all men, women, and children who need the shelter, protection, counseling, social services are available to all who are in need.
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States support the equity in services to support the abused men and boys who have little to no voice of their own, as a society, in general, discriminates against men who are abused in any way, shape or form. Abuse on men shall carry the punishments in line with the current laws in place to also protect women, as legislated in The Violence Against Women Act.
This is in memory of Sean, the toddler who died at the hands of his mother. May he sing with the Angels.
YVI Milestones & Wishlist
The kids thank you!
Donate
Monetary Donations
The Youth Voice Initiative is a registered 501c4 Nonprofit Corporation. We rely on your free will donations to keep operations going. Since we support the passage of legislation and that is considered to be political in nature, your donations are not tax deductible. Then again, passing laws to protect children is worth it.
Please send your donation today by clicking on the PayPal link at the bottom of the page or you can send your donation made out and mailed to;
Youth Voice Initiative
3818 Lindermann Ave.
Racine, WI 53405
Wish List
•Gift Certificates to Office Max and/or Office Depot
•Postage Stamps
•Ink, paper, office supplies
*Gas Cards to make trips to visit Legislators and attend hearings
YVI's PayPal Donation Link: