Five years and four days

For the Grace of Joe (Kindle edition) is now available on Amazon.
 
 
"For the Grace of Joe follows the journey of one family through the discovery, diagnosis and loss of a baby who had Trisomy 13 and the ensuing mental health challenges that grief can throw at a parent. It is a story of fighting against a medical industry that pushes for termination and non-invasive prenatal testing like the MaterniT21 that looks to diagnose before you even hear the heartbeat.
This book was written for families who are where we were. You are not alone."

Cover art: Steven Hoke

Portland Press Herald Article July 3, 2017

We are so pleased to see this kind of enthusiasm for our upcoming Matrix documentary. 


Here's a link to the article. Thanks to Dennis Perkins and 
Dr. Kevin Polk.


 

Ounce of Prevention - Ep 2 Can Cannabis Help With PTSD?

In this episode of Ounce of Prevention, host Vickie Morgan sits back with Dr. Dustin Sulak, owner of Integr8 Health in 
Falmouth, Maine. 

Find out how PTSD happens to some and not others, what exactly is PTSD and how medical marijuana might hold the key to healing.

We invite you to share this video with anyone you know who suffers from PTSD and would like more informaiton on this alternative treatment.

Ounce of Prevention - Ep 2 from Vickie Morgan on Vimeo.

Ounce of Prevention - Ep. 1 Who would help a sex offender?

In this episode of Ounce of Prevention we talk to Patricia Proulx-Lough who works with juvenile sex offenders in an intensive rehabilitation program. 

Do you think sex offenders can be helped? 

The recidivism rate says they can if they are caught early and if the entire family is a part of the 
therapy. 

We invite you to comment, share or like this video. Tell us what you think! 



21 Minutes for PTSD

The 21 day challenge is built on the premise that exercise lasting longer than 20 minutes is enough to have a positive impact on PTSD symptoms. 

If you are a survivor living with PTSD, we invite you to join us at MPower in the 21 day challenge.

21 minutes of light exercise
21 days

Send us your selfies or videos and we'll post it on our page. You might even see yourself in an episode of Ounce of Prevention!

You can handle 21 minutes.

It's our Christmas gift to you. Let's do this together and combat one of the worst symptoms of living with PTSD - isolation.

Email us at mpowermaine@gmail.com

Post your picture or video to our Facebook page.

Connect with us on Twitter

Join us on Instagram

 You are not alone. 

#21minutesforPTSD

#21minutesforPTSD - Day One from Vickie Morgan on Vimeo.












New show focuses on healing

We are shooting a new program that focuses on healing for survivors who suffer with PTSD and anxiety.

We will be talking with alternative treatment providers to shed light on the benefits of medical cannabis and other healing therapies like Reiki and 21-minute exercise sessions that combat those high cortisol levels that occur during panic attacks.

Find out what traditional care providers who specialize in therapy for survivors of child sexual abuse and various support groups and services might be able to provide for you or a loved one who has experienced child sexual abuse.

As the only official provider of Stewards of Children, we will also discuss how to keep your kids safe at home and where you work.

"Ounce of Prevention" is an innovative, proactive look at healing, prevention and empowerment.

Bad Advice November - Day 30


Day Thirty





FACT: More than 20% of children who are sexually abused are UNDER the age of 8.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 29

Day Twenty-Nine



FACT: Kids with agency over their own bodies are at a significantly reduced risk of being sexually abused.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 28

Day Twenty-Eight



FACT: There are laws protecting you if you report first and then talk to your supervisor.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 27

Day Twenty-Seven




 FACT: Yes they do.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 26

Day Twenty-Six




FACT: That's bullshit.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 25

Day Twenty-Five




FACT: Seriously with this???

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day 24

Day Twenty-Four



FACT: No they don't.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November -Day 23

Day Twenty-Three




FACT: Children are most vulnerable to sexual abuse between the ages of 7 and 13.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 22

Day Twenty-Two





FACT:  Mandated reporter training barely scratches the surface on how to detect sexual abuse. You are legally obligated to report your suspicions. If you know what to look for, you can keep kids safer.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 21

Day Twenty-One



FACT: Coaches need to have background checks whether they are compensated or not. Reference checks are also recommended. Ask specific questions like "Would you have any concerns about this individual working with children?" Prohibit one-on-one situations with children and coaches. There are other safety precautions you can take as well.
Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 20

Day Twenty



FACT: Teaching your children that only Mommy, Daddy and the doctor is allowed to touch them and then it's ONLY to keep them clean or healthy sets up good personal boundaries.
Medical personnel need to respect those boundaries during routine visits. Asking questions, asking permission and understanding that they are providing a service means some customers may take longer than others. Your time and your children's time is valuable too.
Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 19

Day Nineteen




FACT:  One in seven incidents of sexual assault perpetrated by juveniles occurs on school days in the after-school hours
between 3 and 7 p.m., with a peak from 3 to 4 pm.


Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 18

Day Eighteen



FACT: Kids can be coerced, shamed, threatened or forced to keep secrets about sexual abuse. You need to be smarter than perpetrators. Not more threatening, not harder to talk to.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 17

Day Seventeen





FACT:  Children are 20 times more likely to be sexually abused by a parent's live-in partner.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 16

Day Sixteen





FACT:  Teaching your children that their body belongs to them and that they don't need to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable is a great start. Giving in to demands from family and friends and forcing kids to hug, kiss, sit on (hello Santa), or any other form of contact tells them the rules are flexible. They are not.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day 15

Day Fifteen





FACT:  90% of children who are sexually abused KNEW their abuser. That includes all genders, all marital statuses, all races, all ages, all religious affiliations, all political stripes. Assumptions but your children at risk.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

#badadviceNovember - Day Fourteen





We are doing 30 days of bad advice posters for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

 FACT: Parents of sexual abuse victims are often surprised at how abusers gained access to a child. Background checks are important but so are surprise interruptions, frank discussions and avoidance of 1-on-1 situations with adults and children.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day Thirteen

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 
 
Day Thirteen



FACT:  When children are sexually abused, 90% of the time it is by someone they know, love and/or trust. It doesn't mean you can't trust anyone, that's simply not healthy. But there are ways to reduce the risk.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day Twelve

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 
Day Twelve



FACT: As many as 40% of children who are
sexually abused are abused by older, or
more powerful children.


Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

Bad Advice November - Day Ten

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 

Day Ten

FACT: The risk for a child with special needs is DOUBLE.
The national average for risk of sexual abuse before the age of 
18 years old is 1 in 6 for boys and 1 in 3 for girls.

Find out how to talk to your children in a way that doesn't scare them at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.  

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register.  

 

Bad Advice November - Day Nine

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.



Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.

Day Nine


FACT: There are laws protecting you if you make a report of child sexual abuse in good faith. Do you know what to look for? If you are a mandated reporter you are legally obligated to make a report when and if you suspect sexual abuse.


Take the training. Learn to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse at an MPower prevention workshop.  
Find out how to talk to your children in a way that doesn't scare them at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.  

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day Eight

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.



Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 

Day Eight





FACT: Children who are empowered to have agency over their bodies and feelings are less likely to be targeted for sexual abuse.


Find out how to talk to your children in a way that doesn't scare them at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.  

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Don't forget to vote today! Please pick the candidate who you think will best protect children. Feel free to let us know in the comments who you think will do that most effectively.

Bad Advice November - Day Seven

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.


Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 

Day Seven


FACT: Reporting sexual abuse takes courage. You are not doing anything wrong when you make a report in good faith - meaning you know what to look for and have good reason to suspect sexual abuse is occurring. Reporting what you suspect is not an accusation. You are simply asking for a service to be provided.


Find out how to talk to your children in a way that doesn't scare them at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.  

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register.  

Bad Advice November - Day Six

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.



Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.

 Day Six



FACT: Spanking teaches kids that when you get mad it's okay to hit someone else no matter how much smaller they are. IE. Abuse their power.
Maybe instead you could use your words. Walk away for a few minutes. Be a role model.

When you physically assault a child they learn to fear you, the person you want them to trust and come to when they need help. Empowered parents aren't afraid to educate themselves on how to do things better or differently.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.


For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day Five

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.



Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received. 

Day Five


FACT: Sexual abuse happens in families of all income levels, all races, all political stripes and all marital statuses. It does not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day Four

We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.

Day Four


FACT: Background checks only show that a person has never been caught commiting a crime. Many of those who sexually abuse have between 1 and 9 victims. 

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day Three


We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.


Keeping kids safe is up to us. We cannot make assumptions about people and then leave it to our kids to look out for themselves.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day Two


We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.




FACT: 90% of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abuser. Children are often groomed long before sexual abuse starts. Parents and caregivers are also groomed to trust this person. That doesn't mean you can't trust anybody, it's to simply point out that it's not the stranger in the imaginary bushes that you actually need to safeguard your children agasint.

Learn more about empowering your family to keep our children safe at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

Bad Advice November - Day One

 
We are doing 30 days of bad advice for the month of November in an effort to bring awareness to our program and to common myths that ultimately put our children in unsafe situations or prevent us from really talking to our kids.

Leave us a comment with some bad advice you've received.



FACT: Children need to know that they are in charge of their own bodies. That includes knowing proper names for their body parts. It's a good idea to tell children which areas are private (anything that is covered by a bathing suit). It is never too early to talk about body parts or privacy. 


Find out how to talk to your children in a way that doesn't scare them at MPower's child sexual abuse prevention workshops.  

For a list of scheduled sessions, go to workshops.

To register for a session, go to register

When Survivors See Abuse

By Vickie Morgan


Everyone has an opinion about how kids should act. We were once told by some neighbors “Your family is very loud.”

Yeah, we know. This is what we signed up for. Having a house full of yelling and laughter and broken lamps and surfaces that are always sticky – we had a pretty good idea what we were in for when we stopped having sex for fun and did it, you know, on purpose.

Now that our kids are 5 and 2, there’s almost a competition to see who is most like which parent. “I was exactly like him at that age” is like the Morgan family slogan. Turns out they’re just like both of us with their own personalities thrown in. We checked. The grandparents agree.

It’s liberating in a way. Realizing that my personality wasn’t formed by any one experience.

But there have been times…when I am around other kids and I start to see things. And I find myself saying “I was just like that when I was her age.”

The trouble is that when I was ‘that age’ there were some horrific things happening to me. I had a lot of the signs of a kid who was being sexually abused, but nobody around me knew what to look for.

Would you know what to look for?

When you are a survivor yourself, it gets complicated.

Survivors tend to doubt their own instincts and let’s face it, who wants to be the person who talks about child sexual abuse? I mean seriously. Are you thinking about baby penises and tiny vaginas? You must be if you suspect a kid is being sexually abused right? What kind of person would even think such things?

Here's the catch though. We are not the ones perpetrating violence on children. Maybe you can’t even put it into words but sometimes you just know there’s something wrong in a kid’s life. Whether they seem like they don’t know who to trust or it’s something more obvious like they are masturbating in public or talking about how sexy their boyfriend is and they haven’t turned 7 yet.

There are signs of abuse that experts agree on. There are behavioral changes that occur.

You can do a google search and find out for yourself. Alone. In front of your computer. And then you can beat yourself up for thinking of reporting an awful hunch you have. What if you are wrong?

So while you stew about that question and live through flashbacks of your own trauma, some kid is wondering why nobody will speak up for him. 

What if someone had spoken up for you?

I don’t want any other child to go through what I went through so I took the training. I found out what the experts recommend about how to prevent child sexual abuse, what to look for and how and where to report if I ever suspect a child is being sexually abused. I want to empower others to do the same.

Survivors carry the consequences of child sexual abuse with them for a lifetime. They are also highly equipped to pick out a creep even in a crowded room. We simply need to learn how to trust our own instincts and value our own judgement.

As a survivor, my biggest question is always “how would a normal person act in this situation?” That’s the biggest gift this class gave me.

I was able to sit with other concerned, caring adults who want to stop child sexual abuse from happening.

This isn’t just a plug for my Stewards of Children workshops. They are available all across the country and across Canada too. 

I found out about the class from my friend Bev who teaches it back home in Newfoundland. She also organizes a walk for survivors every year called Miles for Smiles. Isn't it amazing what survivors can do when we come out of the shadows and share our stories and work together to stop child sexual abuse?

If you are a concerned adult and want to know how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, click here for a list of classes or to register. Share this post with that friend who happened to come to mind as you were reading it. You already know why.

Send us a picture when YOU take the training. We'd love to hear from you.