The Academy On Violence & Abuse was founded by medical professionals recognizing that abuse is a public health issue of great consequence.
Academy Co Founder Dr David McCollum’s perception about the impact of child abuse came by discovering that emergency room patients were mostly people suffering from abuse and living their lives in dangerous and damaging ways because of it.
As a volunteer guardian ad Litem watching five, seven, and nine year old state wards stab teachers with pencils, cut themselves with razors, and having dangerous sex with multiple partners at inconceivably young ages has always unhinged me. One of my first guardian ad-Litem visits was to a four year old in a suicide ward.
Dr McCollum points out that abused children’s destructive dangerous behavior doesn’t end – it lasts a lifetime. Abused children suffer from more chronic and serious illnesses and die young.
The Academy has studied and identified the relationship between interpersonal violence and health and could make a profound difference in the lives of abused people if the research, tools, and information they have compiled were to become part of the mainstream medical world. Doctors can make a difference. They need to know about www.AVAhealth.org
People can be mended and lead better lives if their past abuse is dealt with in a meaningful way and these folks know how to make it happen.
Three million children a year are reported to child protection services in the U.S. & the majority of them have suffered extended exposure to violence and deprivation that will impact them forever if not treated. Extended exposure to violence and deprivation is the World Health Organizations definition of torture.
The Academy’s powerful studies prove the enormous costs, health complications, suicide, and early death that abuse causes.
This information needs to see the light of day. Our schools would graduate smarter and healthier students, our streets would be safer, and our communities happier places to live if we could identify and deal with our nations biggest problems.
“What we do to our children, they will do to society” Pliny2000 years ago.
Support KARA’s effort to stop punishing children; sponsor a conversation in your community (invite me to speak at your conference) / Buy our book or donate
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Videos & radio shows from the Academy;
The president of AVA speaking at NHCVA
MN Public Radio Laura Yuen speaking on AVA conference
Accident or Injury online course for medical professionals taking care of children
AVA research news
AVA Resource Library
AVA Publications