Ryan Nicol
Lauren’s Kids, a foundation started by Sen. Lauren Book to give aid to survivors of childhood sexual abuse, is slated to receive a 2019 Change Maker Award from the Child Mind Institute (CMI).
CMI is a nonprofit which works with children suffering from mental health or learning disorders. According to the group, the annual Change Maker Awards are given to “people and organizations that are creating real, meaningful change for children” struggling with those disorders.
Book’s founding of Lauren’s Kids predates her time in the Legislature. The lawmaker, who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse herself, started the group in 2007.
Among the organization’s goals are educating children and families about ways to prevent sexual abuse, as well as holding awareness campaigns and speaking engagements to highlight the issue. Lauren’s Kids also offers guidance and support to survivors in the aftermath of abuse.
Lauren’s Kids will receive the “People’s Choice Award” at the upcoming CMI ceremony on May 1. The honor went to Book’s group over other crowdsourced nominations that “were voted on based on their impact,” according to CMI. The award will be presented to Book.
In early April, Book and her organization kicked off a 42-hour to honor the estimated 42 million child sexual abuse survivors throughout the U.S. Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis were on hand for that announcement, and several of Book’s colleagues joined in on the event as well.
