President Bush Recognizes April Child Abuse Prevention Month—but one Texan says, “NOT ENOUGH! THE CYCLE MUST BE BROKEN!”

93For Interview Information Contact:
Helen Cook
March 2006
979-922-1512 or 800-792-1512
helen.cook@primestarpublicity.com

Houston, Texas–Nationally recognized child abuse expert, Jan Coates, speaks out for the more than 50 million women in the U.S., one in three, who were sexually, emotionally, and/or physically abused as children.

Coates is living proof that the child abuse cycle can be broken. As a young woman, she experienced child abuse herself, along with divorce, cancer, gang warfare, and the tragic death of her only child by a drunk driver.

“In order to break this vicious, damaging cycle, we have to speak up and be heard. Child abuse is the silent, shame-filled secret that is coming out of the closet. The truth shall set us free,” says Jan Coates, author, speaker, and consultant.

To meet the needs of abused children and adult survivors, we must raise the awareness, educate, offer treatment and equip our front-line care providers. The government, counselors, social workers, support groups, pastors and the community must provide long-term commitment to this cause and support ongoing campaigns seven days a week, 12-months a year.

Over the last 10 years, the U.S. has witnessed a 63 percent increase in reported child abuse cases. The hidden consequences and long-term outcomes of child maltreatment include risk for depression, mental illness, adolescent pregnancy, anorexia, bulimia, substance abuse, incarceration and more. The U.S. spends more than the $24 billion annually to remedy the short- and long-term damage of child abuse. But more than dollars, two children die daily at the hands of an abuser.

Coates adds, “The abuse cycle can be broken, but it takes more than a Band-Aid approach to reach women who have lived with dirty little secrets for decades. It takes sensitivity training and an awareness of surface problems to address and identify the root issue. We see women with a drinking problem and label her an alcoholic. Often the root of the issue is child abuse. More than 90% of the women in alcohol and rehab facilities were abused as children. Abusive survivors will do anything to mask the deep, indescribable pain. Abused children and adult survivors need to know that what happened to them was not their fault; they did nothing to cause the abuse. Together we can be set free from our guilt and shame-filled pasts to pursue our futures.”

For more than 40 years, Coates lived with anger, low self-esteem, anxiety, fear, hopelessness, and depression as she repressed the pain and reality of her childhood abuse. Like most victims, she disassociated from the original cause of her anger and helplessness and heaped destructive acts on herself and others. Eventually, she sought help and is now free from this self-destructive behavior.

Coates is a professional speaker, author and consultant and has appeared on national television and radio programs to raise abuse awareness. Her latest book, Set Free (Bethany House Publishers) offers hope and practical healing steps for abuse survivors as well as insight for counselors, social workers, pastors and family members to help break the cycle of abuse. Additional information about Coates, her book and child abuse statistics can be found at www.jancoates.com.

To schedule an interview with Jan Coates, please contact Helen Cook, 979-922-1512 or 800-792-1512, helen.cook@primestarpublicity.com.

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