Submitted by Melissa Ferrara.
Join others in Killingworth and from surrounding communities by joining the conversation. On Sunday, April 7, 2019 you are invited to participate in “Breaking the Silence on Sexual Abuse: A Community Forum” being held at 2:00 p.m. in the all-purpose room at Killingworth Elementary School on Rt. 81 in Killingworth. This critically relevant and important program is sponsored by the St Lawrence Church Healing Ministry Group..Cathy Iino, Killingworth First Selectman, will provide an introduction followed by short presentations from three professionals who serve children and/or adults whose lives have been tragically affected by sexual abuse. These presenters are Karole Kreutter PhD, a psychologist with over 35 years of experience treating sexual abuse victims at the Child Guidance Clinic and in her private practice, Sean Macauley, LMFT who is the Clinical Director at Youth and Family Services of Haddam-Killingworth with over 10 years of experience in serving survivors of trauma, abuse, grief and loss, and Karen Lemieux LCSW, herself a survivor of child sexual abuse and a spiritual practitioner, trauma specialist, hospice social worker and licensed wholistic psychotherapist who has facilitated the healing of thousands with the mantra that Healing Is Possible.The keynote speaker of the forum will be Jennifer Wenderoth-Holster, the owner of Let It Be Heard, who has passionately worked for over 8 years to give a voice to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking. She has developed and coordinated outreach and educational programs in communities and local schools, worked alongside law enforcement, court officials and agencies to train professionals on best practices, created and updated policies and protocols to prevent and respond to violence at schools, and has provided advocacy to victims at hospitals. She has also given testimony on six bills that are currently laws and holds specialized crisis counseling certifications in the area of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. The forum will provide ample time for Q&A before concluding.
The forum is open to adults and parents are welcome to bring children in grades 7 and up (or younger at their own discretion). There is no charge and no prior registration is needed. Please attend, become informed, and join the conversation. For further information, please contact Carole Pleines at 475-331-5105 or email at carole@lifechallengesct.com.
