BishopAccountability.org
	Silence of Hope Receives Funding Age Dispatch April 21, 2011 http://www.strathroyagedispatch.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3088283 The Silence to Hope project (STH) from Chatham-Kent, Ontario has received funding for the fifth year in a row from the Diocese of London, Ontario. In 2007 the Diocese began funding services for male survivors of sexual abuse through STH, and their commitment keeps getting stronger every year. The STH project will continue assisting male sexual abuse survivors in an area that includes nine counties: Essex, Kent, Lambton, Huron, Perth, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, and Norfolk, which encompasses Windsor to Wingham and from Sarnia to Simcoe. Tom Wilken is the Project Coordinator for the STH project and author of Rebuilding Your House of Self Respect: Men recovering in group from childhood sexual abuse. His newly written workbook is also helping group facilitators and survivors throughout the province. Tom has also written material for Health Canada and the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. STH is working in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, the Diocese of London, Family Services Thames Valley (London), and the United Way of London. Wilken is thankful that the Diocese views the STH project as a responsible use of their resources, and appreciates how the church is taking a key role in helping people in our communities heal from the wounds of the past. This funding not only provides services to help victims abused by clergy, but all male victims of sexual abuse. The STH project provides: free sexual abuse survivor groups; community referrals; education and awareness; workshops and weekend retreats. Wilken reports that many agencies become frustrated when they cannot find services for male victims, and in many cases, there are none. According to the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence 37% of all sexual abuse victims under the age of 21 are male. Research indicates that one in six men will be sexually abused in their lifetime. If you would like more information, or to register for a group in Chatham, Windsor, London, or Sarnia please contact Tom Wilken from the Silence to Hope project at 519-676-7613, toll free 1-877-676-7613, or silencetohope@hotmail.com. Fax 519-676-2203.
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