THE RESOURCE PROJECT

With gratitude

The Resource Project began with a group of mothers who found themselves sharing with one another through The Ironwood Project’s Parent Support Group after their children disclosed child sexual abuse.

In those moments of connection, empathy and experience were shared freely and generously; what helped, what didn’t, what they learned while navigating unfamiliar systems, and what they wished someone had told them at the beginning.

From that first spark, the project began.

Survivors of child sexual abuse, parents, psychotherapists, social workers, board members, volunteers and members of our wider community gave their time, knowledge, professional expertise and lived experience to help create this resource.

We are especially grateful to the survivors who trusted us with parts of their stories, and to the parents and caregivers who were willing to revisit extraordinarily difficult moments so that another family might feel less alone. 

Much of that work was given quietly, with no expectation of recognition or payment. 

Some of our contributors have chosen to keep their names private. To each of you: thank you. Your words, experiences, questions, research, ideas and generosity helped us create something we hope will make an extraordinarily difficult road a little easier for the families who come after you.

This project exists because people were willing to share what they knew so that the next family would not have to begin alone.

We are deeply grateful.

Thank you to:

Parent content contributors and advisors

DA

CM

For helping create The Resource Project from its earliest beginnings — writing content, sharing lived experience, identifying the questions parents actually need answered, and helping shape this resource around what families need in the days, weeks and months following a disclosure. Your truly were the heart of this project.

Lead clinical advisor & contributor

Jana Venditti, MSW, RSW
Social worker and psychotherapist specializing in trauma and sexual abuse

For bringing a trauma-informed clinical perspective to the project and helping ensure that information intended for families remained thoughtful, responsible and grounded in the realities of trauma and healing.

Lead editor & content coordinator

Rachel Bettridge

For helping bring clarity, consistency and care to the language of The Resource Project, and for the considerable work involved in bringing its many pieces together.

Justice system and corrections advisor

Sabrina Dabovic, MSW, RSW
Social worker and psychotherapist specializing in trauma and sexual abuse, with extensive experience in community corrections

For sharing professional knowledge, feedback and perspectives that strengthened this resource.

Information technology advisor

Geoff Patey

For providing technical guidance, helping us understand what was possible, and advising on decisions that improved the accessibility, functionality and user experience of the project.

Graphic design

Stacey Waspe, staceywaspe.ca 

For helping give The Resource Project a visual language that feels calm, human and welcoming to families arriving here during difficult moments, and for generously sharing your expertise that helped elevate the project both technically and aesthetically.

Marketing advisor

Daryl Stansfield, Sugar Estate Media

For helping us think about how The Resource Project could reach the parents, caregivers and professionals who may need it and sharing your knowledge to support in the achitecture of the site.

To everyone who read a draft, questioned a sentence, checked a fact, shared a resource, offered professional expertise, told us when something did not feel right, or simply encouraged us to keep going: thank you.

With gratitude,
Jodi Stansfield

Project lead

Co-founder, The Ironwood Project