Baltimore healthcare group supports young victims of abuse, assault
Every year, the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) brings community members together for a powerful display of solidarity.
GBMC's
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
event aims to raise awareness and support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
This year, the event will be held on Friday, April 11, at 4 p.m.
Every month, GBMC's Child Protection Coordinator Danielle Nickles leads a support group session with teen girls in Maryland who have experienced sexual assault and abuse.
"Girls are able to do some sort of art-based activity with their peers, knowing that these peers have gone through something similar to what they have been through, but they're not required to talk about anything, with the goal being support," Nickels said.
The team calls itself The Safe Squad.
"Safe, for them, stands for support, acceptance, friendship and empowerment," Nickels told WJZ.
"So many of them have said this has been my escape, this is where I can get away from the real world," Nickels said. "They said they feel safe here, they felt heard here, and it's been life-changing for them."
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that one in four girls and one in six boys will report experiencing sexual abuse in their childhood.
A sobering and eye-opening statistic that local organizations like GBMC's S.A.F.E. and Domestic Violence Program are hoping to turn around.
"So many of these abuses will go unreported and so that statistic is likely higher," Nickels said. "But the statistic overall, that equals out to overall about 1 in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before they turn 18."
Support group therapy sessions like the one with GBMC help survivors continue their journey of healing.
"Especially in adolescence, having that sense of friendship, sense of belonging with their peers, I mean that's critical throughout that time period, and throughout life," Nickels said
Community support and fundraisers like GBMC's Walk a Mile in Their Shoes allow the S.A.F.E. Program to operate 24/7, 365 days a year, free of charge for patients.
The event brings together people from all walks of life to raise awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.
"This group started with a community donor, so we're just really fortunate to have the community awareness about this group," Nickels said. "The knowledge of how important and how life-changing it is for so many of these girls."
With continued support and resources, survivors can take steps toward healing and reclaiming their lives.
"I've seen some of them go from where they've been critical and hospitalized because of their mental health and their trauma symptoms to now, they're about to graduate and a couple of them are talking about where their college options are," Nickels said. "So, I mean it really is– If I think about it too deeply, I will get emotional. It's beautiful."
GBMC will hold its
10th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event.
Baltimore Ravens Coach John Harbaugh is the honorary chair of the event this year.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault, you can
find resources at GBMC's website
or by calling the national hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Medable launches programme to enhance eCOA build capabilities in clinical trials
US-based clinical technology provider Medable has launched a programme to supply contract research organisations (CROs) with generative AI-driven, electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA) build capabilities in digitally enabled studies. The Partner Program runs on the company's platform and aims to enable CROs to reduce clinical trial timelines by at least 50%, providing both administrative and financial benefits. It is also designed to help CROs generate trial-specific quotes rapidly and enter trial kick-off or bid defence meetings with pre-built digital studies. The Partner Program offers CROs a choice between self-service, managed service, or a hybrid support model, with the aim to deliver higher margin services through the use of generative AI. Among the programme's features are tools for pricing, demo support for bid defence meetings, and a content library to facilitate reuse and scalability. One of its key components is access to Studio, Medable's AI-powered tool for creating, storing and reusing eCOA instruments. Studio is designed to allow CROs to build eCOA assessments and deploy trials independently, providing the flexibility they need to scale their operations. Its features include content libraries, a translational workbench, virtual scheduling capabilities, and an AI-based point-and-click builder. Medable chief customer officer Alison Holland said: 'We have created a better buyer experience for CROs while putting powerful generative AI capabilities into their hands to reduce the time to first-patient-in and ensure greater control over the trial build process. 'Medable's Partner Program also simplifies administration and delivers strategic business advantages. Sponsors will want to work with our partners to move closer to Medable's vision of a one-day study start.' Based in California, Medable offers a digital clinical trials platform that has been used in nearly 400 trials across 70 countries to date. The company recently launched a digital-first long-term follow-up model intended to reduce burdens on sites and participants in cell and gene therapy trials. "Medable launches programme to enhance eCOA build capabilities in clinical trials" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials, Gen X
A rare type of cancer is growing among millennials and members of Generation X, new research shows. Diagnoses of appendix cancer have tripled in the US for people born between 1976 and 1984 — and it has quadrupled for those born between 1981 and 1989. Advertisement The study was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program to arrive at these findings. 'When you take these alarming rates that we are seeing for appendiceal cancer across generations, together with the fact that one in every three patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer is diagnosed under the age of 50, these point to a timely need for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of appendix cancer,' said lead author Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in a press release from the university. Cancer of the appendix is rare, affecting only about one or two people per million each year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Even so, doctors emphasize the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms emerge. Advertisement 3 Appendix cancer has been rising among members of Generation X and millennials. Chinnapong – 'Ruling out the possibility of an appendix cancer diagnosis, or diagnosing it early, is important for this cancer as we continue to learn what factors may be contributing to this worrisome trend,' Holowatyj said. Appendiceal cancer forms in the appendix, which is a small organ located in the lower right abdomen. There are two main types: epithelial appendiceal cancer, which involves the cells of the lining of the appendix, and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer, which results from the growth of neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumors of the appendix, the NCI states. Advertisement In early stages of the disease, most people do not notice symptoms. 3 The rates have tripled in the US among people born between 1976 and 1984 — while quadrupling for those born between 1981 and 1989. Peakstock – As the cancer progresses, common symptoms include pain, a bloated feeling, a mass in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and sudden feelings of fullness while eating, according to the above source. Common treatments for this type of cancer include surgery to remove the appendix and any other affected organs, as well as chemotherapy to kill any metastasized cancer cells. Advertisement Based on the study findings, the researchers are calling for increased awareness among both the public and the medical community. 'As incidence rates in younger generations are often indicative of future disease burden, these results support the need for histology-specific investigations of appendiceal adenocarcinoma, as well as increased education and awareness of appendiceal adenocarcinomas among healthcare providers and the public,' the study stated. 3 Annals of Internal Medicine published the study on Monday, as researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program. charnsitr – There are no standard screening guidelines or risk factors for appendix cancer, which means up to half of diagnoses occur after the disease has already spread, according to the researchers. Five-year survival rates for appendix cancer range from 10% to 63%. The new study received funding from the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (ACPMP) Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials and Gen X
A rare type of cancer is growing among millennials and members of Generation X, new research shows. Diagnoses of appendix cancer have tripled in the U.S. for people born between 1976 and 1984 — and it has quadrupled for those born between 1981 and 1989. The study was published on Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Common Menopause Medication Might Prevent Breast Cancer While Treating Hot Flashes Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program to arrive at these findings. "When you take these alarming rates that we are seeing for appendiceal cancer across generations, together with the fact that one in every three patients diagnosed with appendiceal cancer is diagnosed under the age of 50, these point to a timely need for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of appendix cancer," said lead author Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in a press release from the university. Read On The Fox News App Fda Approves First Ai Tool To Predict Breast Cancer Risk Cancer of the appendix is rare, affecting only about one or two people per million each year in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Even so, doctors emphasize the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms emerge. "Ruling out the possibility of an appendix cancer diagnosis, or diagnosing it early, is important for this cancer as we continue to learn what factors may be contributing to this worrisome trend," Holowatyj said. Appendiceal cancer forms in the appendix, which is a small organ located in the lower right abdomen. There are two main types: epithelial appendiceal cancer, which involves the cells of the lining of the appendix, and neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer, which results from the growth of neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumors of the appendix, the NCI states. In early stages of the disease, most people do not notice symptoms. As the cancer progresses, common symptoms include pain, a bloated feeling, a mass in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and sudden feelings of fullness while eating, according to the above source. Common treatments for this type of cancer include surgery to remove the appendix and any other affected organs, as well as chemotherapy to kill any metastasized cancer cells. Based on the study findings, the researchers are calling for increased awareness among both the public and the medical community. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "As incidence rates in younger generations are often indicative of future disease burden, these results support the need for histology-specific investigations of appendiceal adenocarcinoma, as well as increased education and awareness of appendiceal adenocarcinomas among healthcare providers and the public," the study stated. There are no standard screening guidelines or risk factors for appendix cancer, which means up to half of diagnoses occur after the disease has already spread, according to the researchers. Five-year survival rates for appendix cancer range from 10% to 63%. For more Health articles, visit The new study received funding from the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (ACPMP) Research Foundation and the National Institutes of article source: Rare cancer diagnoses surge dramatically among millennials and Gen X
