The Adverse Adulthood Experiences Test (AAE) is a test inspired by the nationally recognized Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) on the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. The AAE is similarly designed to measure adverse experiences within adulthood. Also, a history of adverse childhood experiences can compound and escalate adverse adult experiences. Cumulative trauma can affect…
Grief is not just an emotional cycle felt at death; it also occurs with extreme disappointment. Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional “cycle” we feel when something or someone we love is taken away. Grief affects people of all ages, but it is extremely traumatic and difficult for children to process….
Do you hear the “buzz” about the recently released movie Sound of Freedom? A discussion has started! So, frontline professionals are encouraged a discussion is happening, but the problem is far from over. However, what we call the “mountain of misinformation” is now massively huge. Americans are now misinformed and distracted from the “real problem”…
What if family or friends don’t agree with your desire to foster or adopt? What do you do when you only hear horror stories and concerns? The disagreement of extended family or friends should not weigh into your final decision but should be considered. Remember, most resistant family members worry that you and your family…
Being educated in subtle signs of child abuse is imperative to identifying and preventing harm. Subtle signs can be true of any exploitation. The signs often will not give you insight into the type of exploitation, but they provide you with a prompt that something may not be right. Personalities between children can vary greatly, so the…
Clergy sexual abuse is a form of exploitation. Our mission has always been to prevent and stop child exploitation of all forms. Our work may sometimes appear disjointed, but that is not the case. All forms of exploitation are CONNECTED. A prevention and early intervention approach demands that we look at child sex abuse (CSA)…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Empower The Fight Wins 2022 Best of Lee’s Summit Award October 19, 2022 — Empower The Fight has been selected for the 2022 Best of Lee’s Summit Award in the Association or Organization category. Empower The Fight’s Response to the Award We are honored to receive this award and hope that it…
I have always had that extra dose of mommy worry. By reputation, I am the helicopter mom. I appeared confident but people didn’t know my secret. I’ve been afraid and confused. I have been terrified of failing as a mom, not protecting my children, and missing something important. That my children would suffer in silence,…
Despite the best intentions, there is often collateral damage amid fostering and adoption. It is not a common topic, but it is a needed discussion. Our mission is to “prevent harm” by helping families navigate these complex realities and prevent and minimize collateral damage from coming to their households. Over three years, we have collaborated with a diverse group…
It’s Foster Care Awareness Month, and we want to recognize you! Those of you on the frontlines serve victimized children at all hours of the day and night. It can easily seem like you are overlooked or forgotten. You serve children amid complex realities. It can appear that your efforts and heart often go unnoticed…