Michele Betti of Betti & Associates will attend The 2009 SNAP National Conference in Washington, DC August 7, 8 and 9.
SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
Ms. Betti will meet with leaders from across the nation.
Some of the issues she will be discussing with them are new strategies to fight against child sexual abuse, uncover and identify predators and create stronger legislation to protect children. Some of the sessions Ms. Betti will attend include:
- Working with clergy sexual abuse survivors: The Hidden Challenge to the Helping Professions. Focusing on the challenges of working with survivors and the impact on victim recovery when clergy in American culture deny the criminal conduct of its members.
- Working with Media to Reach Survivors & Expose Wrongdoers. Focusing on how talking to the media can not only help victims heal, but also protect others because when stories of abuse are reported by the media the positive impact is far-reaching.
- Women’s Support Group. Focusing on the unique needs of women as survivors. Society often “blames” the victim for an attack, resulting in additional suffering of guilt and shame. The importance of educating people about rape and sexual assault and the necessity to report these crimes, regardless of how old they are is very important.
- Men’s Support Group. Focusing on how men are often forced to keep sexual attacks a secret for fear of being labeled weak and ways to dispel this myth.
- Abuse of Vulnerable Adults. Focusing on how those abused as adults endure the same types of horrific consequences as child victims, yet their suffering and needs are frequently overlooked. The unique experiences of the adult survivor including how it happens and successful strategies for healing will be explored.
SNAP is a non-profit, certified 501(c)(3) organization.
If you’d like to contribute to this organization please visit their website https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/SNAP/OnlineGiving.htm.
Copyright 2009, b&f opinions.
