[author: Chris Rodgers]
As Charles Dickens’ famous quote states “It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back”.
As for one of our times’ most notorious sex-trafficker’s and the abuser of 100’s of young girls, the downfall of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse pyramid came crashing down due to do a simple every day high school occurrence – two friends getting into a fight. After the fight, the two 14-year old girls were taken to the Principal’s office to sort things out. That is where the story was told to the Principal, and then to one of the girl’s step-mom, who then reported it to the Palm Beach Police Department. We all know the avalanche of events after that. A simple fight between friends… the last straw…
In a Washington Post article of August 21, 2019, the names associated with Epstein are well known to us all by now… Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sarah Kellen, Nadia Marcinkova, Former President Bill Clinton, Former President Donald Trump, Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Prince Andrew, Leslie Wexner, Jean-Luc Brunel, Stephen Hawking, Alan Dershowitz, Bill Richardson… and the list goes on and on…
But the important names involved in this tragedy are the names of the victims. Young girls who were as young as 14 years old when they were abused 20 to 30 years ago. Girls, who were daughters, who now have daughters. Back then, they brought home with them the emotional damage caused by this abuse. They carry with them today, and in an unknown way transfer, that same emotional damage in the raising of their own daughters. Still fearful of the Epstein’s of our world. For while they are brave and strong, sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking can leave survivors with lifelong challenges.
It is therefore important these victims understand the trauma done to them. They can then work with mental health professionals to overcome this trauma. To assist with this, I will list a few resources at the end of this blog that one can use to find the proper guidance.
Another avenue is registering for the compensation available to these victims offered via the Epstein Victims’ Compensation Program [EVCP]. The fund began taking claims in July 2020. After Epstein’s death in 2019, his estate’s executors agreed to establish this fund, allowing his victims – including ones who had previously settled with him – to seek proper and just compensation for the damage done to them – damage that was evident back when it occurred – damage that continues to this day. Even with the passing of this time, well beyond the Statute of Limitations in most states, the fund allows all Epstein’s victims to register and seek just compensation.
This fund program is headed by Jordana Feldman, a lawyer who worked on the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Each claim takes an average of 60 days to review. During this claim’s review process the victim is often interviewed by the Fund – done via Zoom due to Covid concerns. Ms. Feldman has stated that “It gives the victims the opportunity to tell their story, and it gives me an opportunity to get to know them in a way that can’t be fully captured in a paper file. I do see some of the rawness of the emotions. There is a very deep, long-lasting impact that the abuse has had on their lives.” It has been reported that as of the end of 2020, the fund has disbursed $49.8 million to an unspecified number of eligible Epstein victims.
As the legal representative for several victims, Jack Scarola, shares the following as to Ms. Feldman and her colleagues:
“I thank them for the sensitivity with which the EVCP interviews have been conducted. Every one of our clients has approached the process with understandable concerns (even fears) about how they would be treated, and each of them has left their interviews not only relieved but comforted and empowered.”
But, the time to register for this program expires this Monday, February 8, 2021. It is important that you reach out to them directly { www.EpsteinVCP.com ), or appropriate legal counsel, such as this law firm, to make sure that your rights are protected.
It needs to also be noted, as stated in the fund’s protocol, that to protect the integrity of the Program and the financial resources for eligible Claimants, the Administrator will institute all necessary measures to prevent the payment of fraudulent claims. The Program will report potentially fraudulent claims to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies for possible investigation and prosecution.
Last, even if you decide to not register for such compensation, or if you are not an Epstein abuse victim, but are a victim of abuse, please use the below resources to assist you with your brave journey. You are a survivor. Help is there for you. You are not alone in this fight. Peace.
RESOURCES (Courtesy of Professor Marci A. Hamilton, Founder, CEO, CHILD USA):
To Report Abuse or to Speak with a Professional:
The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline, RATNN:
(800) 656-4673; 24/7 availability in English and Spanish
https://www.rainn.org/
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
(800) 273-8255; 24/7 availability in English, Spanish, and for Deaf or Hard of Hearing
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
NVCV, The National Center for Victims of Crime:
(202) 467-8700
Tnfo@victimsofcrime.org
Database of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapists, Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Appointments, the Beck Institute
To find resources by State
To learn more about resilience, well-being, and post-traumatic growth, we recommend these resources:
- The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles – Karen Reivich, PH.D., and Andrew Shatte, Ph.D. Reviews resilience and resilience cultivation.
- Resilient Grieving – Lucy Hone, Ph.D. Reviews resilience research specifically focused on tremendous loss, especially death. Relevant to other forms of loss, such as surviving violence.
- Flourish: A Visionally New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being – Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. Reviews research on the phenomenon of “flourishing.”
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Explains the key findings on a psychological state called flow, in which an individual focus solely on the task at hand and experiences positive affect from such states.
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol Dweck. Uses experimental evidence to suggest that believing we have the capacity for something (like post-traumatic growth) can be the determining factor in whether we display such a capacity.
- No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering – Thich Nhat Hanh This book especially includes practices which can be done as suffering occurs (such as during retraumatizing courtroom procedures) and clearly fits into the positive psychology resilience framework (by encouraging mindful practice in times of stress).
Positive Psychology Resources:
Websites:
· E-Book of Three Positive Psychology Exercises Positive Psychology Center
· Positive Psychology Center
· Authentic Happiness
Podcasts:
· The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
· The Science of Happiness with Dr. Dacher Keltner
· Unlocking Us with Dr. Brene Brown
· Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris
Videos & Courses:
· Assorted Videos
· Online Course: Positive Psychology: Martin E.P. Seligman’s Visionary Science
· Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
· The Science of Well-Being
· Positive Psychology
· –An Ecotherapeutic Mediation in Ten Steps: This is an exercise to help your body release the stress of constantly bracing for a disaster
· Barbara Fredrickson: Using Positivity to Bounce Back from Inevitable Setbacks
· Tal Ben-Shahar: The Incredible Power of Positivity
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