Adult abuse survivors need help, too
Nov 11, 2017
Great work, North Star (“Halt this awful crime,” Nov. 3 editorial)! Glad to see it. The only problem is the Pennsylvania powers that be are excluding us who lived it from engagement in the round table discussion on human trafficking. Though I am glad to see the community conversation finally starting, I am disappointed it is not with more inclusion to those of us who lived the actual narrative. A youth survivor and adult worker turned researcher and community ally, I lived in Lancaster County for 13 years. I was one of those teens, yet as a civically engaged, community-involved adult in need, no agency, services or support were made available to me. If anything, Lancaster responded with silence.
I was devastated and had to relocate due to financial and emotional duress. I thank you, Linda Crockett of Samaritan Counseling Center, as the only person who invited me back to Lancaster to participate in a healing process. Adult survivors are part of the narrative. Some of us have been having this community conversation for a long time before this article. It’s sad to me that it’s only audible under the media spotlight.
Melanie Dante
Philadelphia
