The Power of Filmmaking
Recently, while browsing through the newly added movies and programs on Amazon Prime Video, I came across a documentary that caught my attention. Titled “Rewind,” by Sasha Joseph Neulinger, this true crime documentary explores the harrowing experiences of Sasha, a survivor of child abuse. As a true crime podcast enthusiast, I was instantly drawn to this film and its exploration of crimes against children.
“Rewind” takes viewers on an emotional journey as Sasha delves into his past by revisiting home videos made by his father. These videos become a powerful tool in uncovering the sexual abuse he endured as a child. The documentary showcases Sasha’s courage as he interviews his family members, therapist, and law enforcement, shedding light on the events that led to the trial of his abusive family members.
A Personal Call to Action
Since starting The Family Ties Podcast and blog I have been trying to bring the dark side of homeschooling, abuse, and neglect to the attention of the public. I have voiced my passion for child advocacy and the urgency for major law reform regarding social services, child protection, and child rights.
Watching this raw and powerful documentary had a profound impact on me. It stirred up suppressed emotions and memories that I had buried deep within. It also highlighted the urgent need for child advocacy, law reform, and social services in ensuring the protection and welfare of children. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of child abuse and neglect have been on the rise, making it crucial to address these issues.
Sasha’s journey and his transformation into a powerful child advocate inspired me. He founded the organization Voice For The Kids and now travels across the nation, spreading awareness about child advocacy. Through his documentary, Sasha has received well-deserved recognition, including awards at prestigious film festivals.
Force for Change
Witnessing Sasha’s ability to turn tragedy into a force for change has been eye-opening. It made me realize that the broken systems that failed me as a child can be fixed. I refuse to let my own experiences go to waste. Instead, I am determined to become a catalyst for reform and change, advocating for the rights and safety of abused children.
While sharing my personal story remains challenging, I understand the importance of speaking up. I have joined The Coalition for Responsible Homeschooling and plan to volunteer with organizations like the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center to contribute actively to this cause. It’s time to break the silence and demand accountability, better laws, and improved responses to child abuse cases.
Effectively and carefully sharing my personal story is one I still struggle with. I remain private on the details of my abuse in efforts to not bring strife to my family, whose relationships with one another are already strained. Due to this complicated family dynamic, it is best described as a field filled with emotional landmines that I have become loath to detonate. I continue to feel timid to release the incidents that to this day, remain private and locked away in my head. But, I am determined to stop feeling as if I must keep it to myself in order to not bring discomfort to others. I have carried this burden my entire adult life and realize that if I do not find a positive way to push for change, I will have wasted the only positive opportunity my physical and sexual abuse could afford me. As Sasha puts so well: “I can’t change the past and I can’t control what happens around me, I can only choose how I show up in the present moment of my life”.
We Must Speak Up on Behalf of Those With No Voice
For the time being, I will continue to call for action, reform, and advocacy that is so needed. I promise to not lose sight of the big picture and the stakes that are so very high for those with no power or say. And I will be a voice that champions common-sense laws, better response time, and more attention to the cases that are reported. My goal is to actively and tirelessly be someone who demands that we have accountability and oversight. We, the people, have voices and we should not be afraid to use them.
The national statistics found on the National Children’s Alliance website shows the staggering numbers in relation to child abuse by the numbers. They report that “Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S each year. An estimated 678,000 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in 2018, the most recent year for which there is national data. That’s about 1% of kids in a given year. However, this data may be incomplete, and the actual number of children abused is likely underreported”. The fact that cases are under-reported is not surprising to me, and I strongly believe due to the pandemic, these numbers have gone up exponentially.
NCA goes on to tell us that “Most child victims are abused by a parent. In substantiated child abuse cases, 78% of children were victimized by a parent”. This is also not surprising, but something that everyone needs to be reminded of. The people that are most responsible for the care, love, and education of a child are the ones most often at the root of the abuse. We have got to get on the same page and start demanding better protections, rights, and follow-up with families. Especially the families that are reported to child protective services.
Even more appalling is the fact that according to Child Abuse Statistics (childhelp.org) “The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect”. This is truly inexcusable. And as I have said in previous posts, social services, their response time to looking into reports made, actions not taken, and the priority of keeping the family intact as a unit regardless of the health or well-being of the children involved is a great place to begin the reformation of a truly broken system.
Resources for Facts, Statistics, and Organizations
Please go and read The Family Ties Podcast episode 7 summary for the Christiana Glenn case for more numbers, stats, and facts relating to child rights. In addition, the blog post Why the System is Failing Homeschool Children offers a more in-depth discussion on social services and the judicial system’s mishandling of child abuse cases.
As you can tell, I am mad as hell about the state of child welfare, protection, and rights within a country as industrialized and modern as the one we supposedly live in. Let’s act like it and make life more liveable for the children who are the ultimate future and hope for our world.
Together, let’s be the voice for those who have none. Let’s demand reform, accountability, and a brighter future for our children. It’s time to change the narrative surrounding child abuse and create a safer world for the generations to come.
If you are interested in what organizations you can donate to, report possible abuse cases, or find volunteer and activism opportunities, please visit our Non-Profit Organizations page for a list of organizations that deserve our support. Also, visit the following pages for more information on this topic as well as up to date news, resources, stats:
Visit Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s Voice For the Kids organization page for great resources.
Read the book: Invisible Children by Mike Tikkanen
Visit https://study.com/academy/popular/child-advocacy-groups.html for resources on the best child advocacy groups out there.
And a final recommendation, for now, go visit Homeschooling’s Invisible Children to find out more about a topic not many people are familiar with.
Now go out there and do your part for the kids in your communities! Please share any resources, groups, and stories you find helpful in relation to this topic in the comments below.
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