New Mexico In Depth (http://nmindepth.com/author/xchelzin-pena/)
Laura Aguiar moved to New Mexico eight months ago and settled in the outskirts of the state’s capital. She began reaching out to volunteer with a local “Dreamers” organization when she started to feel sick. There was chest pain. Headaches. Stomach aches.
The trauma Abrianna Morales, 16, experienced from sexual assault last year was compounded by isolation she felt during her recovery . There was no resource group or program specifically directed toward teens and youth. “I felt very alone, very isolated, having to deal with the ptsd, the trauma, all by myself,” Morales said. “I was sitting one day watching television and the character had to report a sexual assault, and it occurred to me, I didn’t know how to report a sexual assault.”
With the help of her parents she properly reported her case, but realized that not all young people who’ve been sexually assaulted have support from their parents. So she decided to do something about it.