Survivor Shares Her Story During Child Abuse Prevention Month

It’s nearly two weeks into Child Abuse Prevention Month, and here in the Central Valley, that prevention is vital.

Fresno County Department of Social Services says their Child Abuse Hotline received more than 20,000 calls in 2014, and education is more important now than ever before.

It’s a childhood tragedy with a lifelong impact.

"My sexual abuse began when I was 8 by my paternal grandfather," child abuse survivor Alexis Gonzalez said.

For two years, 20-year-old Alexis Gonzalez was a victim of sexual assault. Today, she is a survivor.

"When I was 14, they found one of my journals and read it, and in there, it talked about the fact that I had been abused," Gonzalez said.

After her family found out, Gonzalez’s grandfather was sentenced to 195 years to life in prison, but the damage had been done. Gonzalez was diagnosed with PTSD and became highly suicidal.

"It became really hard for me to deal with everything because I felt like I was having to deal with it alone," Gonzalez said.

Abuse in the valley was put in a shocking spotlight last week, when a child was locked away in his room in Kettleman City, and recently, when a Bakersfield man caught on surveillance video slapping a toddler in a convenience store.

Abuse like that is why Gonzalez is sharing her story.

"It still hurts if I think about it, but if I know that saying it, that someone is going to take something from that, to help themselves or help somebody else, then I’m fine with that," Gonzalez said.

It’s the same reason Fresno Council on Child Abuse and Prevention held a seminar Monday, and the same reason they tie blue ribbons to trees outside. They say creating awareness is one of the only tools they have to keep children from becoming victims.

"It’s very, very important for everyone to take this month to look inside and ask what can i do to help prevent child abuse and neglect."

FCCAP says they hold this seminar annually, but hope to increase it to twice a year.

Gonzalez says she is currently attending school at the College of Sequoias and hopes to seek a career in mental health, so she can continue to help children who are victims of child abuse.