Brought up between the controlling, strict matriarchal presences of her foster mother and grandmother, Judith never had the opportunity to ask about her birth parents, and was discouraged from even acknowledging the possibility of a wider family. Hers was a 'seen but not heard' upbringing, with loving but uncompromising guardians who would be familiar to anyone who grew up in the fifties. It's unsurprising, therefore, that it took Judith so many years to brave the question of her origin, and start a journey of self-discovery. By this time it was too late for such questions to be easily answered, and it would take many years of perseverance for the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to fall into place. In the meantime, Judith grew and changed, married and had children of her own, all the while with a single question niggling in the back of her head: where did she come from? This is a journey with surprises, reunions, travel, loss and love, homecomings and heartbreak; the story of an isolated, cowed only child growing into an adventurous woman, determined to track down her family. As the fog of Judith's early life lifts and her family tree becomes visible, developments grow ever more surprising. My Hidden Family is a heart-warming memoir about the family you're given, and the family you find.

This book looks at the social problems encountered by those involved in the adoption and fostering of children who have been sexually abused. Drawing on interviews with families who have had direct experience of the problems, this book includes chapters on recognizing the signs of sexual abuse, helping children talk about their experiences, the impact on other children in the family, the trauma of allegations, support services and the appropriateness or otherwise of psychotherapy. This book is designed to be of interest to both social workers and substitute parents.

An autobiographical account of a nightmarish childhood. A recollection of events that happened behind closed doors. From youth to adulthood; from hurting to healing. Intertwined with a journey into intuition, paranormal occurrences and finding out who you are. A story about mental and physical growth, learning how to be strong on your own and finding the right time to confront those who wronged you. Finding strength from your own weakness is incredibly freeing and powerful. Sometimes you look back and wonder how you made it; how did you survive? All you know is you did, you will, you can.

As a child, Victoria Spry was brutally beaten, neglected and starved by the woman she called Mummy. To the outside world Eunice Spry was a devoted parent, but behind closed doors she was an evil tyrant. Instead of protecting, loving and caring for Victoria, she forced bleach and urine down her throat, knocked out her teeth, tied her up naked and made her live in squalor. It took eighteen years of heartache and despair before she found the courage to expose her mum. Tortured is Victoria's gripping story of survival.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has focused more public attention on the Catholic Church in Australia than on any other organisation subject to this investigation. It is a cathartic moment for the Church. Public disillusionment and a deep distrust within the community about the way the Church has handled clerical sexual abuse cases could prove more damaging - or more transformative - than any findings from the Commission itself. This book examines the public discussion around the child abuse issue and its construction as a problem of Catholicism. It considers what the Australian Catholic response to the greatest crisis in its history will mean in the long term for:* the Australian Church's credibility * the reputation of its schools, hospitals and welfare organizations * and for its future cultural and political influence.

Pritchard's extensive experience of practice, research and training inform the advice and practical guidance she gives... The book is full of useful photocopiable handouts and proformas that can be helpful as long as the trainer has the necessary background knowledge to use them. The case studies are a joy and contain the diversity of experience and multicultural elements missing from the rest of the book. They will be useful in concocting a range of exercises and discussion points in basic training.' - Social Work Education 'The book is written in a clear, conversational style and is both practically-based and very accessible... Pritchard's style is conversational and accessible. Material is introduced in a friendly and informal way.' - Ageing & Society 'A training guide covering the setting up of abuse awareness courses through the various stages, looking at selecting a pool of trainers, developing them, evaluation and case studies. It provides guidance for those struggling through the discussions and planning, and point clearly to the need for sensitive and skilled group workers as trainers.' - Community Care 'This is the latest of a wide range of adult abuse publications by Jacki Pritchard, now recognised as one of the leaders in the field. In previous works, she has highlighted the need for training at all levels in all agencies concerned with vulnerable adults... The book's purpose is simply to increase the number of people available with the capacity and skills to provide training to others. This cascade approach is seen to be the most effective way of training large numbers of people with limited resources. It is however recognised that different types of training are required for people with different functions. This manual will be used to train trainers at the introductory, basic information level. The manual is set out clearly and provides essential information for potential trainers of trainers. It manages to demystify the art of training and brings it within the scope of most people. The initial sections deal with developing training within organisations, selecting a pool of trainers, and training and supporting trainers, with exercises to help readers through the process. The next section is full of practical advice on how to get ready for your first training session. This leads on to a chapter on possible content of a basic raising awareness course on adult abuse. While giving direction, this section allows some felxibility and choice for the trainer. There are lots of handouts, which can be reproduced as part of a training course. One of the most important sections is on difficult issues for trainers. This includes disclosure of abuse by a course participant or participants being particularly challenged by the subject matter. This is followed by a section on problems for trainers, which offers sound advice on a range of important issues. The final chapters concentrate on evaluation and case studies for use during a training course. English law is referenced in the legal section and this should be substituted with the relevant Scottish equivalents where they apply. This timely and practical manual will help agencies develop effective awareness programmes. It deals with a wide range of issues, offers practical advice and contains numerous exercises and worksheets. An ideal addition to any agency's training resources, it will make a positive contribution to addressing the often unrecognised issue of adult abuse.' - Rostrum Agencies working with vulnerable adults are increasingly finding they have to train staff internally to become trainers on the issue of adult abuse and new government legislation means this trend is likely to continue. Based on the author's considerable experience of training practitioners, this timely and practical manual will help agencies develop effective basic awareness programmes. Becoming a Trainer in Adult Abuse Work deals with a comprehensive range of issues including selection of trainers; practicalities such as venue, equipment, refreshments; policy, law and evaluation and difficult issues ranging from disclosure and confidentiality to lack of confidence and time management. As well as this step-by-step advice, the book contains exercises and worksheets, ensuring it is a practical resource as well as a useful reference for those agencies, across all sectors, involved in adult abuse work.

The issue of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is firmly in the public spotlight internationally and in the UK, but just how well is it understood? To date, many CSE-related services have been developed in reaction to high profile cases rather than being designed more strategically. This much-needed book breaks new ground by considering how psychosocial, feminist and geo-environmental theories, amongst others, can improve practice understanding and interventions. Edited by one of the leading scholars in the field, this is an essential text for students and those planning strategic interventions and practice activities in social, youth and therapeutic work with young people, as it supports understanding of how CSE arises and how to challenge the nature of the abuse.

Life isn't all fairytales and glass slippers... 'Cinderella', I wish! is the powerful true story of Dominique DeVeraux's life. Beginning with her early childhood as a young black child living with loving white foster parents, Dominique is content and adored. But when Nanny dies suddenly, Dominique is taken away from the loving home that she knew and thrust into a world of trouble. Dumped in a new home with strangers, Dominique's life turns to one of difficulty and misery. In her fight for happiness she faces more and more abusers, domestic violence, rape and murder. Ploughing on regardless, Dominique chooses love as her weapon and shield. In this story of courage, our protagonist rises above the challenges she faces to celebrate life and to love herself indubitably.

THE SHOCKING TRUE STORY BEHIND THE HIT TV DRAMA THREE GIRLS When detective Maggie Oliver first discovered that children as young as 10 were being groomed, abused and trafficked for sex by gangs of men in the Rochdale area, she felt like a lonely voice calling for people to act. Banging on closed doors, it seemed that nobody was able or willing to help her save these vulnerable girls, but she couldn't just sit back while countless lives were being destroyed forever in plain sight. Instead, she launched a one-woman campaign to bring down these sickening gangs. This is the heart-breaking and shocking story of how the actions of one determined detective secured convictions in what is now one of the most notorious grooming cases in the UK. Along the way Maggie discovered countless examples of how the authorities were letting down our most vulnerable children. She blew the whistle, losing her job and at times her mind at times, in a bid to stop others from experiencing the same. This is the first ever account from a police insider on the endemic problem of child sexual exploitation across the nation and how these cases are handled by the authorities put in place to protect us. It tells the story of a woman brave enough to speak out and a group of girls who found the strength to fight for justice after having their lives completely shattered by their abusers; together they show in shocking detail why this must never happen again.

Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition is specifically developed to equip physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals with the necessary tools to identify cases of child sexual abuse. This new edition is revised and updated to reflect contemporary best practices for the pediatric approach to childhood sexual abuse and effectively treat and examine sexually abused patients. Professionals who work with sexually abused children face a great challenge in not only treating the immediate outcomes of sexual abuse but also safeguarding their patients' long-term recovery. To meet their needs and the needs of those in their care, Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition offers a wealth of evidence-based research and practical guidelines to the evaluation of childhood sexual abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse Assessment provides self-directed exercises that guide readers through the process of identifying documented injuries and developing a plan of action for evidence collection and subsequent medical care unique to each case. Readers will have the opportunity to analyze case histories of child sexual abuse and accompanying photographs of the patients' physical examinations. Features and Benefits: Portable and convenient Authored by nationally recognized experts in forensic nursing Ideal for self-directed study or group instruction Diverse case history and full-color exam photos for a broad survey of sexual assault response Written for sexual assault examiners at every level of experience, from novice to advanced

'IT TOOK ME LONGER TO FORGIVE MY DAD FOR NOT HELPING ME WHEN I WAS TORTURED, THAN TO FORGIVE THOSE SOLDIERS WHO TORTURED ME' Mirsad Solakovic survived a war in which some 300,000 people died, but was left with psychological damage. Mirsad lived through the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian civilians, until his family escaped to the UK. Following his experiences, he became difficult and untractable, and refused to speak English - until dedicated and sympathetic teachers at his school in Birmingham brought him back into contact with those around him. This thought-provoking account of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian tragedy paints a uniquely intimate portrait of survival, revealing pain that has never faded, yet has not crushed the human spirit. It is also an uplifting account of just how effective good teachers can be when faced with deeply troubled pupils.