Domestic & Sexual Violence A HISTORY OF ATTITUDES   This timeline is a compilation of significant events, issues and attitudes in Western history related to domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse. The items highlighted are not intended to disparage any particular group or individual. Items were chosen because they are representative of significant cultural trends at different points in history, and each has something to teach us about how we arrived at the place we are today. In any history or narrative, it is important to ask– whose voice is missing? It is often the indi ..read more

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***Spoilers Ahead*** Promising Young Woman is a daring film about sexual violence that premiered in 2020 to critical success. The film follows Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan, who attempts to avenge the rape and subsequent suicide of her best friend, Nina, by acting extremely intoxicated at clubs, and then harming the men who attempt to take advantage of her. When Cassie finds out that Nina’s rapist is getting married, she begins a spree of revenge against those who harmed Nina during and after her assault, ultimately coming face-to-face with the man who raped Nina seven years prior. &n ..read more

The pandemic, its consequential economic devastation, the ongoing political turmoil, racial uprisings - our lives are currently teetering on the edge of many extraordinary historical events. This is compounded by personal challenges which we all face; from trying to make ends, grieving for loved ones lost in this pandemic and so on. We are collectively experiencing our own unique sense of grief and loss, and simply put, to exist in this present moment can be incredibly difficult. In my own efforts to cope with my own feelings, I have been repeatedly directed to explore therapy. The reali ..read more

Be someone they can talk to. “You listened. You took me seriously, valued … and validated how I felt, and came to me with serious solutions instead of brushing [my feelings] aside.” –Connor talking to Hannah, his cousin and legal guardian.  Listen to their story and hear others on our website. Youth don’t need adults to have all the solutions. They do need adults to be on their side, asking authentic questions, giving honest responses, and partnering with them to find a way forward.  That all sounds good until the going really gets tough. Youth and adults have real problems keeping ..read more

Written by guest blogger Lenna Wertenbaker of Mosaic VT Self care is a creative art. Anything that supports you to feel well, manage the stressors in your life and show up as your “better self” is self care! I asked several of the youth that I work with what they do for self care and I was struck by the variety of different things they talked about. From long walks or taking space from a conflict to cool down, to tidying their bedrooms and caring for pets, to sharing a journal among a group of friends to keep up with each other’s lives and thoughts, there were so many creative and inspi ..read more

“Do you want to vent or do you want advice? Just learning now, after 40 years on earth, that this might be the most important question to ask whenever a friend or loved one is upset.” -Jada Yuan, Washington Post Reporter “WAIT!” reminds my colleague Amy Torchia, stands for “Why Am I Talking?” “Ask yourself this a lot,” suggests Amy, who is the Vermont Network’s Child and Youth Advocacy Specialist and a creator of the Askable Adult Campaign.  “Sometimes adults dominate conversations because we feel we need to always be teaching. Youth may just want to be listened to, and can actually lea ..read more

We’ve all been there. You’ve had a busy day at work, you get home and try to relax, and as soon as you sit down your brain immediately starts reminding you of all the things you haven’t done in a while. When was the last time you called your sister? Add an unprecedented global pandemic onto the already buzzing hustle and bustle of daily life, and reaching out to loved ones that you’ve been meaning to for the past (insert ___ days, weeks, months, years) seems almost impossible.  It’s easier than ever to hit the snooze button on connecting with our loved ones. Connecting is a two way stre ..read more

We trust each other a lot but there are some times when it’s a bit shaky and we can get angry at each other, but every time we can get that relationship back and we can trust each other more. –Gabriel talking to his mom Natanya.  Listen to their story about building trust and hear more stories on our website.   In real-life relationships, trust can get damaged. Adults make mistakes, especially when we are stressed, or following advice that stresses setting limits above all else – including relationships. Youth can end up feeling disrespected and misunderstood, triggering a downward ..read more

“I never felt comfortable with teenagers,” lamented a friend, “even when I was one!”  Now that her older child was entering adolescence, she saw him turning toward peer relationships and away from her. “I realized it was now or never,” she told me. “I set up a weekly breakfast date with my son. We both look forward to going out for a bagel before school. Sometimes I feel awkward, but even the silences and ‘small talk’ help us have a better balance of positive interactions in the weekly mix.” Vermont youth want more approachable adults who “get it,”, who they can turn to for help navigati ..read more