The Erin Levitas Foundation, a Pikesville-based nonprofit committed to fighting sexual violence, has launched a new question-and-answer web portal. Every Body Has Questions supports and encourages conversations about bodies, boundaries and safety.
The portal is designed for parents, educators and caregivers to access expert guidance in fostering healthy, open conversations with children up to 15 years of age and older. The portal provides tools and resources to help users engage in open, healthy conversations and address sensitive topics, including how to set boundaries and communicate with other parents.
Founded in 2018, the foundation is named after Erin Michele Levitas, a Stevenson resident who died in January of 2016 just a month shy of her 23rd birthday. Levitas planned to pursue a career as an advocate for sexual assault survivors.
“We’re committed to supporting families and educators in having these important conversations,” said Marissa Jachman, the foundation’s executive director. “Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. Instead of turning to social media or other online searches, we’re here to help provide a central place to receive expert advice and resources to guide parents and children toward healthy, respectful and safe relationships.”
Questions submitted through the portal are answered by leading experts in the fields of education, therapy, law and social work.
Contributors include Chimi Boyd-Keyes, an equity and inclusion leadership strategist; Dr. Laurie M. Graham, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work; C. Quince Hopkins, a gender violence and restorative justice expert; Dr. Wendy Gwirtzman Lane, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Center for Hope; Debbie Roffman, a sexuality educator, consultant and author; and Malia Segal, a children’s therapist.
“We often turn to friends and group chats for advice on big topics,” said Dr. Graham. “This portal offers the same kind of support, but with expert guidance to help answer questions and point caregivers in the right direction.”
The portal provides general information and resources aimed at preventing sexual violence but is not intended as medical advice. For specific concerns, users are encouraged to consult licensed professionals.
For information, visit everybodyhasquestions.org/
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