Kim Johnson had been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 20 years when she met the patient who changed her life.

This patient came into her Roseville office in 2009 and shared with Johnson that she suspected her daughter was being sexually abused. Johnson encouraged the woman to take steps to end the abuse, and was impressed by the woman’s courage in the face of a devastating situation. “(When) I heard her story, it really touched my heart,” she says. “I knew I had to do something.” As a result of that experience, Johnson created MOMS (Mothers of Molestation Survivors: mothersofmolestationsurvivors.com),an organization whose goal is to help mothers of children who have been sexually abused. “When a mother finds out, there’s really nowhere to turn,” Johnson shares, adding that the organization gives mothers a chance to unite and support one another through what may be one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Johnson is also a mother of two children (ages 12 and 15), and she emphasizes the importance of communication in preventing abuse. “I’m very open with my kids,” she explains. “A lot of their friends come and talk to me, too.”

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