The artwork of eight-year-old Jason revealed an angry and frustrated child. Jason's third grade teacher was shocked by the violent and sexually explicit picture that he turned in after art class. She called Illinois' Child Abuse Hotline later that day and explained her suspicion of abuse in Jason's home.
That's how Jason came to the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. His parents had recently divorced and, during an interview, Jason disclosed that his mother's new boyfriend had sexually abused him. An evaluation of Jason by a clinician at the Center revealed a boy intensely angry about his parent's separation and the abuse.
Jason was relieved to finally talk about the abuse and his feelings. He said that he felt safe at the Center. The Center referred Jason to a therapist near his home for weekly counseling. With counseling and his family's support, Jason is realizing that the abuse and his parent's divorce is not his fault and that he can build back the trust he had lost.