Child Abuse Comprehensive Film Review

Presented by

Khulood Agha khan, Lisa Green, Dorin Benedict, Tharshiny Selvakumar and Chithra Vijayaragavan

1. Dateline

The visitors come inside the house seeking sexual activity. Some men leave immediately upon seeing Hansen because they have seen him in previous Dateline investigations. When a father showed up with his son, that tore the heart apart.

Parts of the films touched us

Images/event in the stories do we most remember

A high school teacher, 42 years old. He said he didn’t do anything. Yet you could see the fright on his face. When a father showed up with his son, with the intentions of abusing someone. A guy brought rope and duck tape in his trunk. When a 39 years old guy brought a bag of alcohol for a 13 year old girl.

If you are an adult survivor of child abuse, you need to be in the right mental space to confront your past.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counseling, can help you discuss what happened to you as well as process it.

Children, who are recovering from abuse, respond to art, music, and play therapy because they often do not have the words to express their pain, or are still too scared to tell anyone. Art, music and play therapy allows them to process their feelings in a way that feels safer, that it provides an opportunity to give voice to their pain. The images they create provide tangible proof of the progress that has been made and can be especially helpful on days when children feel discouraged about their progress.

Your path to recovery may also include the use of visualization, guided imagery, exercise, art, meditation, yoga, and massage. These can help you relax and get your mind and body more receptive to healing, and will complement the

work you are doing in therapy. Once you are in the right frame of mind, your journey can begin.

What we learned about the causes of violence, the impact on survivors and the process of healing?

Our reactions and what we like to share with others

We would like to encourage others to watch the Dateline ongoing series who don’t know about predators. This series provides parents with concrete steps they can take to protect their children, including how to initiate meaningful conversations with their children. Catching predators teaches parents and children what they need to know before the next predator strikes.

Conversations about Internet safety with your children will help them protect themselves. Parents try to get to know their child’s “online friends”, and keep a close eye on their activities.

Many internet services providers (ISP) provide parental-control options to block certain material from being accessed by a computer. Keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms, where you can monitor use.

Share an email account with your child so you can monitor messages.

Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behaviour.

2. Kids Stuff

When the boy draws a picture of mom and dad and himself on paper then tears it up.

When the boy is sitting at his desk humming loudly as you hears mom and dad yelling in the other room.

When the child is curled up in a ball under his desk, in the dark crying.

Parts of the films touched us

Images/event in the stories we most remember

When the boy is daydreaming about clowns a and robots hitting each other with bats.

When the clown and robot are on a merry go round , everything is spinning very fast.

When the boy's drawing starts turning colors and then turns black in the end.

When the boy’s room is completely destroyed.

When the child is crying under his desk

Social Isolation, hiding in a room with increased feelings of loneliness and depression

Impact: fear of other people, or a negative self-image. leaves hidden scars that manifest themselves

in numerous ways. Process of healing: it is not always easy, it can

be extremely difficult at times. Your life and what you make of it, becomes your choice, no one else's.

What we learned about the causes of violence, the impact on survivors and the process of healing?

Children’s hearts get impression from the words they hear at home.

The world around them makes their imagination, it’s up to us(parents) to make it pleasant or scary.

Think twice before you say something in front of the children because words hurt.

There may be many things stressing you out but don’t let them reach your child.

Screaming and yelling are like scary monsters to children so ruins their self esteem.

It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.

Our reactions and what we like to share with others

3. To a Safer Place Parts of the films touched us

Shirley Turcotte mentioned that her mom never asked her what happened

When she asked the neighbour what she would do for her now in that same situation?

Nobody cared for her when she was a child She had been sexually, physically and

emotionally abused by her dad. She found herself safe on the school bus

Images/event in the stories do we most remember

When Shirley was going back and asking her family members what they remember

When she went back to her neighbours and asked them what they remember about her

Asking the neighbours why they couldn’t help her

Asking everyone why no one could help her. When she mentioned that a part of her was

missing

Our reactions and what we like to share with others

The causes of violence; constant fear, didn’t want to get married, was

afraid to have children life long impact on her couldn’t fully accept

herself she is trying her best during her process of

healing It takes a lot of time for adjustments and

struggles for survivors effect in family life

Our reactions and what we like to share with others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ZMzLqYCCU&feature=youtu.be

• It is upsetting to realize that these kind of issues still exist today•It is a very emotional topic of discussion•Everyone should feel they are responsible for taking action against these issues•Altogether we can make a change in a child’s life•No more ignorance please

4. Failing Jeffry

CCAS being involved and yet a child lost his life.

The treatment of the adults who lived in that house, towards the children.

Abusive caregivers brought to justice• There is still more to come in terms of

legal proceedings Jeffrey’s parents expressed their anger when it was too late.

Parts of the films touched us

Jeffry being so tiny and bony like a skeleton.

The dark room with a lock on it. The exercise was to take a walk

around the living room. Jeffry and his sister being called pigs

and treated like one. The children fed leftovers and drank

water from the toilet. Jeffry’s mattress soaked in his urine. Emaciated Jeffrey

• Septic shock Revelation of repeated offense

• Not the first child to die under Elva’s care

Images/event in the stories do we most remember

What we learned about the causes of violence, the impact on survivors and the process of

healing?

Violence stems from personal needs and deprivation. The needs could be financial of personal.

The image of the emaciated Jeffry, he died of septic shock.

Jeffrey’s grandparents were repeated offenders yet they got the custody of their grand children.

Jeffry not the first one to die under Elva’s care.

Our reactions and what we like to share with others

Shock, how grandparents even got the custody .• Injustices towards their

children and grandchildren.

• Anger against everyone involved, who didn’t disclose what was happening in that home.

Questioning of standards• Is CCAS unfit to operate

for children?• Legal inaction?• http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=fnvLwsuCR4M

What Other Social Problems get connected to these social problems?

Drugged

Psycho paths

Depression

Poverty

Mentally diseased

Dysfunctional family

Uneducated

What are the Root causes? Family structure Guilt and fear Low self esteem and self worth Social Stress Child rearing Practices Domestic Violence Low self confidence Depression and anxiety Flash backs Drug and Alcohol Problems Stressful Circumstances Emotional Illness Environmental Factors

Social Action Engaging Communities Education and Awareness Protect and Respond Dealing with Abusers Professionals helping Children Working Together Women helping Agencies, Rosalie Hall, Ph.# The Halton Children’s Aid society, Ph.# (905) 333-

4441 Victim Services Program of Toronto

Tel: 416-808-7066 Assaulted Women's Helpline

Tel: 416-863-0511; TTY 416-364-8762Website: www.awhl.orgE-mail: info@awhl.org

The Toronto Children's Aid society, Ph.# 416-924-4646 ( Kennedy Rd.) Kids help phone number is 1-800-668- 6868

We Strongly Condemn

Thank You