About Shavontana "Starr" Davis
Shavontana “Starr” Davis is an attorney, mom, youth advocate, speaker and founder. She lives by the words “I am not my past, I am my future.” At just seven years old, Starr was sexually abused at the hands of male family members, leaving her feeling paralyzed, confused and ashamed. For nearly two decades, she remained silent about her pain. Without the knowledge of programs to support her as a child, it wasn’t until she had a heart to heart with her beloved grandmother, the late Maxine Davis, that she learned the power of choosing joy. That choice led her to her purpose. Her passion to ensure that no child should have to suffer as she did, led to the creation of The Starr Institute, Inc. (TSI), which seeks to educate, engage and empower youth and the community about child sexual abuse and exploitation. TSI offers interactive, culturally relevant, age-appropriate workshops for youth aged 12-17 and the adults who support them.
Starr married her knowledge of the law with her love for helping children and youth and she is working to create a world where young people avoid, not simply recover from abuse. Starr has tackled her role as a family woman with the same fortitude as the founder of TSI; when she is not working, she enjoys nothing more than spending time with her husband, son, and daughter.
Order The Abuse Algorithm:
Lessons in Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse
The Abuse Algorithm: Lessons in Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse
$25
About the Book
Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is known for saying adverse childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today. Child sexual abuse is an adverse childhood experience. 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Child sexual abuse is preventable. Part memoir, part resource guide, this raw and unfiltered book underscores the societal misconceptions about this issue and is a call to action for meaningful change.
If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse you are NOT alone. Child sexual abuse affects us all: survivors, those close to them, and the community. This book will help you understand no two experiences are the same, that healing is an individual process, and education is our best chance at prevention.
In The Abuse Algorithm: Lessons in Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse, Starr asks readers to:
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Carefully consider the difficult topics that will be discussed
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Continue their education
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Pledge to utilize this tool to become a trusted adult who will listen to young people, understand their needs and meet them where they are
Yes, sexual abuse is among the most serious issues that children and youth face and the thought of it is terrifying to parents and caring adults. Addressing the problem directly and responsibly is necessary to foster appropriate awareness of this difficult topic. This book will help you realize that by using a public health approach, we can reduce children’s exposure to sexual abuse and ensure safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all young people.