We are not alone

Welcome all Mission Viejo High School Survivors

Reach Out to an Attorney

If you were sexually harassed or sexually assaulted, it's helpful to speak to a legal expert. They can provide legal advice regarding criminal or civil cases, for example, you may be able to pursue a criminal case, or receive compensation for the harm caused to you.

The law firm handling the recently filed lawsuit against SVUSD is Greenberg Gross. If you choose to contact them, tell them you are an MVHS or other SVUSD survivor.

Greenberg Gross: (949) 383 - 2800

Find out more at Greenberg Gross

Report the Crime to the Police

Reporting abuse is an incredibly personal and difficult decision. What happened to you was not your fault - it is illegal for anyone to be sexually harassed or sexually assaulted.

Benefits of Reporting:

It creates a record of the abuse
It may help uncover other victims during the police investigation
It may prevent future abuse by jailing the abusers

MVPD:

(949) 770 - 6011

OC Special Victims:

(714) 647 - 7419

South County Investigations:

(949) 425 - 1900

Call OC Special Victims

TAKE ACTION

Attend the Next SVUSD School Board Meeting

When: August 4th

Where: District Education Center Boardroom

25631 Peter A. Hartman Way

Meetings have 2 parts, each with a different agenda - a closed session & a public session.

To Speak:

Submit your name on a white comment card prior to the start of the session.
You have a max of 3 mins.
There are 30 mins for speakers, so if everyone takes 3 mins, 10 people can speak.
You cannot relinquish your time to another speaker.
Prepare to make a statement; you can ask questions but the board won't directly answer.
Say what you know to be true; if it's 2nd-hand, use language e.g., "people have shared...".
Comments during the closed session are not public.
You can speak at both the closed and public sessions.

The Closed Session Starts at 5pm

You can only speak regarding an agenda item.
The closed session agenda includes "Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release".
You can report specific information about a current or former employee.
Arrive before 5pm to complete and submit a comment card.
Public comments are heard right at the beginning of the closed session.

The Public Session Starts at 6pm

You can speak on an agenda item or any topic you choose, e.g., "student safety".
You are not allowed to name or make complaints about specific employees during the public session.
You can use pronouns, or broad terms such as "people" instead of their title or name.
Arrive before 6pm to complete & submit a comment card.
Public comments are heard near the beginning of the public session.

Click here for Dates

Click here for Agendas

Click here for Meeting Minutes

Directions to SVUSD

Express concerns about how they've handled sexual abuse allegations, inquire about what they're doing to resolve the issue, and demand an action plan.

SVUSD: (949) 586 -1234

Call SVUSD

MVHS: (949) 837 - 7722

Call MVHS

MV City Council: (949) 470 - 3050

citycouncil@cityofmissionviejo.org

Email MV City Council

Donate to Prevent Childhood Sexual Assault

Non-profits fighting childhood sexual abuse receive very little funding, approximately <$35 million per year. That's the salary of a wall street CEO, or a Hollywood movie budget. Additionally, in 2020 the NIH spent $50 million on all child abuse research, compared with $460 million in sleep research and $10,500 million in genetics research.

And yet this problem affects 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys, and its impact costs the US billions per year.

"In 2015, the total economic burden was approximately $9.3 billion and includes costs associated with health care, child welfare, special education, violence and crime, suicide and survivor productivity losses."

Help change the tide.

Organizations We Recommend:

Reach Out to a Mental Health Provider

While access to effective mental health providers can be a challenge, they are an invaluable member of your support team. Employers, schools, and organizations often provide accessible resources - ask your employer or school if they offer staff or student assist programs, or visit your organization's website.

If you have little or no access to mental health resources, we recommend Cerebral for immediate access to a mental health provider.

Find out more at Cerebral

For Immediate Help

National Sex Abuse Hotline

Call: 1 (800) 656 - HOPE (4673)

Live Chat: https://www.rainn.org

Call Now

Trans Lifeline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

Call: 1 (877) 565-8860

https://translifeline.org

"Our no active rescue policy lets people trust us when they don’t feel comfortable reaching out to other hotlines who involve 911.”

Call Now

The Deaf Hotline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

The Deaf Hotline

Video Phone: 1 (855) 812 - 1001

Live Chat:https://thedeafhotline.org

"Safe, confidential advocacy services for Deaf survivors"

Video Call Now

Know Your Rights

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are crimes under California state law. Additionally, when these crimes occur in schools they are subject to federal law under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

"Federal courts and agencies have found that Title IX prohibits sex-based harassment, including sexual harassment, when harassment is sufficiently serious as to limit the ability to participate in and benefit from a program or activity.”

-Dept. of Health & Human Services

Learn More About Title IX

Victims’ Bill of Rights

Sexual Assault Survivor's Bill of Rights

"The Victims' Services Unit (VSU) offers crime victims and their families support and information at every stage of the criminal process."

Learn More About the VSU

Share Your Story

It takes tremendous fortitude to go public with child sexual assault. It is not an easy decision or road to take, nor should the duty of protecting children fall onto the already burdened shoulders of survivors.

Unfortunately, those responsible for ensuring the safety of our schools and children may not always act in their best interest. If not for the public attention, current MVHS students would not be aware of their risk.

Public disclosure is an incredibly personal choice, but done safely and under the right circumstances, many survivors find it to be empowering and therapeutic. Remember that you are simply revealing a truth about a crime an abuser wanted you to keep secret. Any negative repercussions are their doing, not yours.

Additionally, sharing your story with the people you grew up with, or among your peers can be incredibly powerful, and your voice can help educate others by humanizing the issue.

Ideas for sharing your story:

You can share your story on social media with your own words or art
You can speak on a survival panel for academic conferences or organizations
You can help educate mandated reporters on the realities of abuse
You can get involved in advocacy to improve laws, support survivors, or educate the public

Learn More

What is Grooming?

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Learn behavioral red flags in child-adult relationships with this guide from the Darkness to Light organization.

Find out more

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

A strong educational tool for students, parents, teachers, and administrators that sheds light on the dynamics of educator sexual abuse so that schools can be a safe haven for every child.

Read the Book

Consent by Dr. Jennifer Lang

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

A contemporary guide to sex education that answers the most pressing questions teens and young adults have about dating, relationships, consent, and sexual safety.

Read the Book

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Are you or a loved one a victim of trauma? Learn more about how the body processes trauma and how it can heal.

Read the Book

"The Tale" by Jennifer Fox

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

"The Tale" by Jennifer Fox

A powerful memoir based on true events, this film shares the process of how trusted adults groom victims and families.

**Trigger Warning**

Watch the Movie

Therapeutic Tools

Guided Imagery by Belleruth Naparstek

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

Created by Healthy Journeys and hosted for free by Kaiser Permanente, these audio meditations "can help you access your body's natural tendency to repair and heal. Through guided imagery and affirmations, you can use your own mind as a complement to traditional medicine."

Evidence based guided-imagery meditations "offer simple but powerful ways to alleviate distress, reduce anxiety, promote restful sleep, and provide a sense of mastery and confidence."

Listen for Free

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences created "a collection of short videos focused on ways to protect and enhance our own emotional well-being. The videos feature strategies and techniques shared by mental health experts."

While these were created during the pandemic, the tools can be useful at any time.

Browse Free Videos

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

The NICABM develops online educational content featuring current psychological research & therapies. While created for healthcare professionals, infographics, blogs, videos, free content, and paid courses are available to anyone.

Learn About Trauma

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

"Do something for yourself that no one else on the planet can do for you.”

Developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center’s Stress Reduction Clinic, MBSR is an "evidence-based program that offers secular, intensive mindfulness training to assist people with stress, anxiety, depression, and pain."

MBSR courses are offered all over the US - search for providers near you. UCI offers free and affordable online classes.

Join a Class

Welcome all Mission Viejo High School Survivors

Welcome

Read Their Story

The Lawsuit

Reach Out to an Attorney

Report the Crime to the Police

TAKE ACTION

Attend the Next SVUSD School Board Meeting

Donate to Prevent Childhood Sexual Assault

Reach Out to a Mental Health Provider

For Immediate Help

National Sex Abuse Hotline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

Trans Lifeline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

The Deaf Hotline

National Sex Abuse Hotline

The Deaf Hotline

Crimes in California

Know Your Rights

School Resources

Keep Kids Safe

Share Your Story

Learn More

What is Grooming?

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

Consent by Dr. Jennifer Lang

Invisible Target by Andrea Clemens

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

"The Tale" by Jennifer Fox

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

"The Tale" by Jennifer Fox

Therapeutic Tools

Guided Imagery by Belleruth Naparstek

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

Resilience & Emotional Well-Being Videos

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

Activism

April 7th SVUSD School Board Meeting

Contact Us

missionviejodiablosurvivors@gmail.com

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