PROJECT PATHFINDER INC

Project Pathfinder is the only nonprofit in Minnesota that focuses on the entire spectrum of sexual abuse prevention, including:

• Teaching parents, daycare providers, teachers, and staff from youth-serving organizations how to intervene to stop child sexual abuse before it occurs.

• Treating and eliminating harmful sexual behaviors in adults.

Together, our programs prevent sexual abuse and restore lives. For more information about our programs, please click our Projects pages to the right. _________________________________________________________________

KAY'S STORY

Everyone knows that parenting a teenager is difficult. But thank goodness few parents experience the kind of awful night Kay had when her son Jon was 14. That night, her neighbor called to tell Kay that Jon had sexually abused her daughter.

Kay was outraged and in shock. She felt like her whole world had shattered into small pieces at her feet. She dragged Jon out of bed and peppered him with questions. Of course he didn’t answer; he couldn’t give the answers she desperately needed to make her feel at peace.

Kay made the decision to report her son for sexually abusing another child. As Kay said, “It was the only way to get help for him so he wouldn’t grow up into an adult who sexually abuses children. It was also a step toward getting help for the child he abused.”

Kay says that even though that was one of the worst days of her life, she feels lucky. She found a therapist experienced in working with adolescents with sexual behavior problems.

“I told my son how much I loved him,” said Kay. “I told him that what he had done with the neighbor girl was sexual abuse and it was wrong. I told him that I didn’t want him to grow up to be someone who abuses children.”

Jon completed his 3-year treatment program and learned the tools he needed to control his behaviors. All along, Kay stayed by his side and told him he wasn’t alone – that they would get through treatment as a family.

“We communicate as a family, and he can always talk to his therapist about what’s going on when he can’t talk to me,” says Kay. “I feel lucky that we’ve come through this and that my son took responsibility for changing his behaviors.”

At Project Pathfinder, we work with parents like Kay every day, providing therapy and treatment programs for children and teens, as well as adults. Your donation of $50, $100, $250 or more to Project Pathfinder helps ensure that we can continue to provide these services for parents like Kay and their families.

Together, we can prevent sexual abuse and restore lives.

_________________________________________________________________ Note: Photos are from general photographic stock and do not depict clients, staff, or anyone affiliated with Project Pathfinder, Inc. The Licensed Material is being used for illustrative purposes only; and any person depicted in the Licensed Material, if any, is a model.