When a child tells you #metoo

By Brandon Pendleton, HCWC/Roxanne’s House Forensic Interviewer

For decades, we at HCWC have stressed the importance of believing survivors of sexual assault or relationship violence when they open up and tell their story. Talking to someone about abuse or trauma can be an overwhelming and incredibly vulnerable act, which is why it is so crucial not to shut someone down by offering suggestions about what a survivor could have done to avoid the situation or asking if it was “really” rape. Luckily, our attitudes have been shifting as we collectively become more aware of just how widespread abuse and assault are, thanks in large part to the Me Too movement.