In this first episode of season 2, Melissa and Heather introduce this season's theme, oppression. They will highlight the connections between oppression, violence, and well-being. Melissa and Heather will also share how anti-oppression work fits into raising and caring for youth. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media we love: Youtube video of the example Heather gave for the differences between equality, equity, and justice

This bonus episode features an interview with children's book author, Jayneen Sanders, of Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept. Jayneen has written many children's books designed to educate and empower children. Her books are an instrumental tool used to protect children from experiencing or perpetuating harm.

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media we love this week:

Melissa & Heather discuss ways that parents and caregivers can prevent child abuse at home. You’ll learn how to empower your child to refuse possible abusers and trust their intuition. A few other topics included in this episode are body autonomy, boundaries, and private body parts. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media to support this episode:

Secondstep.org 

https://www.youtube.com/@2ndStepProgram/videos

Pizza Consent Activity

This episode is the second part of school-based prevention education. Melissa & Heather are joined again by Miss Emily, K-12 prevention educator, to discuss internet safety, boundaries, and private body parts. Miss Emily also shares her tips and tricks on talking to you people about tough topics. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media to support this episode:

My Body, What I say goes - Amazon

Second Steps Website 

My Body! What I Say Goes! Website

Net Smartz - Internet Safety site

In this episode Melissa & Heather talk about child sexual abuse prevention in the classroom. They are joined by a classroom educator, Miss Emily, as we learn about prevention education in K-12 schools. Miss Emily shares how she teaches the “always ask first” and “touching” rules, as well as how she talks to kids about keeping secrets. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media to support this episode:

Some Secrets Website

Some Secrets on Amazon 

Second Steps Website 

Erin's Law Website 

In this episode, Heather and Melissa speak with Erin Merryn. Erin is a childhood sexual abuse survivor, an advocate, an author, and a public speaker in the realm of childhoodsexual abuse. Her mission to protect children has led to the creation of Erin’s Law, which is now a mandate in 38 states. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media we love:

Erinslaw.org 

IG: the_cat_named_carrot
Amazon link to books -- https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erin-Merryn/author/B002A52XIU?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Heather and Melissa continue their discussion on child sexual grooming. After a recap of part one, they share advice from child predators on keeping kids safe from sexual abuse. They also discuss some of the methods K-12 schools use to prevent child grooming. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media we love this week:Keep This Between Us - Freeform Show 

Resource: Interview with Cory Jewell Jensen

Melissa and Heather introduce grooming of children for sexual abuse. They take an in depth look at the stages child predators go through as they groom children for sexual abuse. Melissa and Heather also discuss the red flags, or warning signs, for adults to be on the lookout for. 

You can find SafeR Journeys Podcast at https://www.instagram.com/podcast_saferjourneys/ and https://www.facebook.com/safer.journeys.podcast. Melissa and Heather are preventionists with Safe Journeys, a domestic and sexual violence agency serving LaSalle and Livingston counties in Illinois. You can learn more at http://safejourneysillinois.org/ 

Media we love this week: Sexual Abuse in the Family Video 

Want to read more?

Stages of Grooming 

Basics of grooming

This episode details how we can help decrease the negative impact of trauma by building resilience and implementing protective factors.

Links to media we love

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/riskprotectivefactors.html

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/resilience/

https://www.learningforjustice.org/

In this episode, Melissa, Heather, and special guest, Stephannie, take a deep dive into a specific study on childhood trauma that has had a huge influence on how we identify and manage trauma. The study is titled “Adverse Childhood Experiences” or ACES, and was conducted by the CDC & Kaiser Permanente.

https://amaze.org/

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

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Safe Journeys

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National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.SAFE (7233)

National Sexual Violence Hotline 800.656.HOPE (4673)