Healing from child abuse and neglect starts with sharing stories

In an August 2024 opinion piece for the Anchorage Daily News, Kaila Pfister and Eliza Posner of the Alaska Children's Trust introduced Stories ACT, a new storytelling website for Alaskans affected by child abuse and neglect. They argue that breaking the silence around childhood trauma is where healing begins, and they invite every Alaskan to take part.

A Space Built by Alaskan Survivors

The authors explain that the Alaska Children's Trust spent years hearing from Alaskans who were ready for change. Many survivors wanted their voices heard, yet stigma kept them isolated. The website grew out of the work of an advisory group of Alaskans with lived experience, who set out to create common ground and a future where these conversations are no longer taboo. Stories ACT runs on Our Wave's story-sharing platform.

Why Anonymous Storytelling Supports Healing

Pfister and Posner note that trauma can make the world feel unsafe and other people hard to trust. Sharing a story anonymously, they write, can rebuild connection and help survivors push back against shame. They share a reflection from a project participant, who describes their story as part of their identity but not the force that directs their future. In the participant's words, opening up "brings it out of darkness," as quoted in the Anchorage Daily News.

Turning Lived Experience Into Prevention

The authors see survivor stories as one of the strongest tools for ending child abuse and neglect. Personal accounts add human context to statewide data, raise awareness of long-term impacts, and build support for strengthening family well-being across Alaska. The site welcomes both written and artistic submissions. Survivors, their loved ones, and anyone else touched by child abuse or neglect are invited to share, or simply to read and learn from others.

Read the full story in Anchorage Daily News.