The Tonya Allen Foundation is about addressing the needs of sexually abused children in a multifaceted comprehensive manner, first as a coalition and now as a organization incorporated in Arizona. The goal of the organization is two-fold: 1) to increase public and policymaker awareness about and conduct programming to address the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse (CSA), and 2) to address the relationships between this issue and the broader issues of overall family and community violence, and, further, violence within and between communities. The goal is to stop CSA and related forms of violence by mobilizing public and private support to change public policies and societal relationships within and between groups that allow CSA to repeat generation after generation. It has not been easy, nor will it be, but the alternative of looking the other way is not an option if we want to protect children and build healthier, safer societies.

To effectively respond to the enormously complex issue of child sexual abuse, we need this call to action from the research community, and we also need a call to action from the informed private sector; from human service community-based organizations charged with treatment, prevention, and education; and from the public sector to educate policymakers and create new and relevant policies and legislation. These efforts are a beginning only. There are ways for anyone and everyone to help!