Dear LACASA supporters:

I am 16 years old, I am a student in Livingston County and I am a survivor of sexual assault. I was assaulted from 2nd grade to 9th grade by my father. I didn't know that what my he was doing to me wasn't acceptable. I was told, and I believed that every daddy did this to his little girl. I was embarrassed and I didn't like what was happening at all.

My shining light came in 7th grade when a LACASA staff member came to my school and told my class about all the types of abuse. She said that I didn’t deserve what was happening and that it wasn’t my fault. I felt ashamed and stupid that I didn't know this before my abuse started.

I wanted SO badly to stand up and tell her what was going on but shame and fear kept me seated. Two years later in 9th grade I found the courage in me to speak out. LACASA came to my rescue after I talked to the police, they offered free counseling and I had a legal advocate to make the court system more comfortable for me.

Before the LACASA staff member came to my class that day, I was surrounded by the silent screams of sexual abuse. Without her and LACASA my dad would still be here and I would still be in the dark, scared and lonely. Instead my dad is spending 3 to 15 years in prison charged with criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.

Thanks to your support and LACASA services I volunteer now. I want to help give a voice to the silent victims so that they can become a survivor like me!

-Anonymous 2008