My journey from sexual assault victim to survivor and advocate michellecorrao

1. Good Morning-Thank you Thank You Neil Moore, Mary Neddo, Sharon Langlotz����.they have been instrumental in inspiring me to give hope to others and live out my dream Thank you for having me here today Most of all I want to say thank you through my story to all of you who work tirelessly and passionately with victims of crime. Like no child left behind I my hope is that no victim would get left behind and because of you we can accomplish that together Good Morning-Thank you Thank You Neil Moore, Mary Neddo, Sharon Langlotz����.they have been instrumental in inspiring me to give hope to others and live out my dream Thank you for having me here today Most of all I want to say thank you through my story to all of you who work tirelessly and passionately with victims of crime. Like no child left behind I my hope is that no victim would get left behind and because of you we can accomplish that together

2. Objective To convey an individual�s experience of a sexual assault To present the importance and appreciation of Advocacy I know you all hear lots of stories as we do at Prevail. I hope that I can show appreciation from all the individuals that you have supported, maybe you have only seen them once of maybe you have seen them through to living a very fulfilled live by sharing my story and what I have learned from being a victim to working with law enforcement, prosecution, nurses, and advocacy and what I have learned along the way.I know you all hear lots of stories as we do at Prevail. I hope that I can show appreciation from all the individuals that you have supported, maybe you have only seen them once of maybe you have seen them through to living a very fulfilled live by sharing my story and what I have learned from being a victim to working with law enforcement, prosecution, nurses, and advocacy and what I have learned along the way.

3. Advocates have a profound impact that begins at the time of the crisis and continues for the rest of a survivor�s life. No human interaction is neutral, it is either healing or wounding. No human interaction � this line has become very helpful to me but it was not until my assault and I worked in advocacy did I realize the importance of my interaction in all areas of life No human interaction � this line has become very helpful to me but it was not until my assault and I worked in advocacy did I realize the importance of my interaction in all areas of life

4. Who was I � 32 years old working two jobs���. I was not very accepting of help or letting anyone else know Confusion, anger, shame and aloneness became my best friends TRUNK NEXT SLIDE Who was I � 32 years old working two jobs���. I was not very accepting of help or letting anyone else know Confusion, anger, shame and aloneness became my best friends TRUNK NEXT SLIDE

5. Have you ever been in trunk of a car? This is the trunk of my car.Have you ever been in trunk of a car? This is the trunk of my car.

7. This certainly has come full circle for me Karen Hensel and I are good friends for just the past 4 years.This certainly has come full circle for me Karen Hensel and I are good friends for just the past 4 years.

8. Reactions Anger Sadness Fear Isolation Fear of publicity Fear of not being believed Feel like you are going crazy Embarrassment Guilt Denial Shame Depression Shock Fear of the unknown Confusion The last reaction is confusion which leads me into the court process which took almost 3 years. I learned a lot during those three years but sometimes the confusion of the court systems still remains.The last reaction is confusion which leads me into the court process which took almost 3 years. I learned a lot during those three years but sometimes the confusion of the court systems still remains.

9. Lets talk about the confusion Law enforcement many of you have been in dangerous situations? Your brain is flooded with emotions therefore it does not process, it jams the process. Give example of Neil Explain how I thought that I was knocked down outside the house and how 13 years later I found out that it actually happened inside the door. Lets talk about the confusion Law enforcement many of you have been in dangerous situations? Your brain is flooded with emotions therefore it does not process, it jams the process. Give example of Neil Explain how I thought that I was knocked down outside the house and how 13 years later I found out that it actually happened inside the door.

10. This leads me to my next slide on REACTIONS These reactions became my life for three yearsThis leads me to my next slide on REACTIONS These reactions became my life for three years

12. The Perpetrators James Irby Received 210 years Pled guilty, convicted of: Rape, Kidnapping, Criminal Deviate Conduct, Armed Robbery, Carjacking, Conspiracy/Armed Robbery, Burglary. Bennie Copeland Received 70 years Pled guilty, convicted of: Rape, Criminal Deviate Conduct, Aiding/Kidnapping, Conspiracy/Armed Robbery. Antoine Netherly Received 320 years Case dismissed but convicted in other incidents of: + Rape, Kidnapping, Burglary, Criminal Confinement, Armed Robbery, Carjacking, Criminal Deviate Conduct.

13. Effects of Sexual Assault Victims are� 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol 26 times more likely to abuse drugs 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide 3 times more likely to suffer from depression 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder How do you go on with your life after being assaulted, how do you go back to work, face people go on with your daily routing � YOU DON�t � YOU CAN�t Suicide In Hamilton County we have named a child advocacy center after a teenager who took her life because she could not face her father one more time in court because she was afraid he would not get enough time for what he did to her I would like to hope that we have an impact to change this with future victims in the way we treat and educate them. We, the victims are not educated on how to be victims or what to do we want to feel better right away. I have to say without my faith and the support I had I would not be standing here today.How do you go on with your life after being assaulted, how do you go back to work, face people go on with your daily routing � YOU DON�t � YOU CAN�t Suicide In Hamilton County we have named a child advocacy center after a teenager who took her life because she could not face her father one more time in court because she was afraid he would not get enough time for what he did to her I would like to hope that we have an impact to change this with future victims in the way we treat and educate them. We, the victims are not educated on how to be victims or what to do we want to feel better right away. I have to say without my faith and the support I had I would not be standing here today.

14. What I needed Feel safe Express emotions make own decisions Respect privacy A chance to breathe Be there Be patient Encouraged to get help and why The need to know �what comes next� LISTEN

15. Listen �So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.� Jiddu Krishnamurti

16. What I Needed - But Did Not Know Multidisciplinary Team; Group composed of members with varied but complimentary experience, qualifications, and skills that contribute to the achievement of specific objectives.

17. Secondary Victims A group of people that is often over looked are the victim�s friends and family. They can be just as traumatized as the victim. Let the family know what they may expect from the victim physically and emotionally. Help them understand how they can be supportive and helpful. Let them know services are available for family. This effected the whole community, especially my family and friendsThis effected the whole community, especially my family and friends

18. Remember� Remember this could be your daughter, son, sister, brother, mother, grandmother or friend. Communication is key! Cross training and respect for all disciplines role with the victim. (Multidisciplinary Team) When talking to someone no matter what the situation is I try to remember this because I do know that this could be one of family members or friends. How would I want them treated.When talking to someone no matter what the situation is I try to remember this because I do know that this could be one of family members or friends. How would I want them treated.

23. Life does not get better than this