By Taiwo Akinlami
Court Appointed Special Advocate & Guardian ad Litem, CASA Franklin County

On May 19, 2025, I had the honor of attending Day One of the Ohio Attorney General’s Conference on Victim Assistance, themed “Every Step a Victory.” As a delegate representing CASA Franklin County, where I serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian ad Litem, the day was not just intellectually enriching, it was emotionally piercing, soul-deep, and redemptive.

The Keynote That Reached the Soul

The conference opened with a keynote address by Teresa M. Stafford-Wright, a nationally recognized leader in the fight against gender-based violence. Her decades of advocacy and survivor-centered reform set the tone, but it was her story that delivered the impact.

Teresa didn’t just speak, but she testified. Her account of transforming pain into purpose was a masterclass in courageous vulnerability. Her healing is not complete, she admitted, but it is continuous. That admission alone set a liberating tone.

What struck me most, and affirmed what I know and practice, having risen from the depths of childhood abuse and begun my healing journey on February 16, 1997, when I became a person of faith:

• Healing is not linear; it is a lifelong journey. Relapses are not failures but rhythms in recovery.
• You don’t beat yourself up; you get back up. That message wasn’t just spoken, it was lived.
• Thriving doesn’t mean perfection. It means growing, showing up, and pressing forward.
• Healing must become a ministry. The healed must rise and become healing agents for others.

These truths echoed deeply in my heart and mirrored one of the final chapters in my book, The Burden and Wisdom of Parenting, where I wrote about being an ” I am Thriver”, one who thrives through the ashes, turning affliction into advocacy and an enduring message of healing to my world.

When Caregivers Doubt: A Session Too Close to Home

In the breakout session on Navigating Ambiguity, Disbelief, and Healing in Child Sexual Abuse, the discussion cut deep. Abuse is traumatic, but being disbelieved can be soul-crushing. The pain of abuse multiplies when your truth is denied, especially by the ones closest to you.

My takeaways:

• Children are rarely frivolous in reporting sexual abuse. Believe them.
• Disbelief is a barrier to closure. Validation is often the first step to healing.
• Family denial causes some of the deepest wounds. We must create better systems of response and care.

Ethics of Advocacy: From Policy to Presence

I attended two thought-provoking sessions on the ethics of victim advocacy. These sessions forced me to reflect on the responsibilities that come with bearing witness to another person’s trauma.

What I learned:

• Ethics is more than a code; it’s a presence. The advocate must be emotionally present and personally grounded.
• You cannot give from what you don’t have. A sick person cannot donate blood. Likewise, a dysregulated advocate cannot offer safe counsel.
• Books offer rules, but people require discernment. Advocacy demands a fusion of policy, wisdom, and heart.

Why We Show Up

Day One reminded me why we do this work. Not just to advocate, but to heal. Not just to speak, but to witness. Not just to serve systems, but to restore souls.

As I prepare for Day Two, I carry with me these reminders:

Every step is a victory. Healing is a calling. Presence is power.

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