26 ICSA TODAY
in Colorado for 25 years and in Connecticut for 11 years. In
fact, Carol was instrumental in deciding that the Connecticut
workshop be focused on those born/raised in cults as she
foresaw the needs of this population and wanted ICSA to
meet them in this comprehensive way.
She has written 14 scholarly articles that have been
published, and two books: Exit Counseling, and with Herb
Rosedale, The Boston Movement. Carol and I wrote the article
on the Colorado Model for recovery workshops for the first
issue of ICSA Today in 2010. Carol and Nancy Miquelon wrote
the chapter on this model in Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide
to Working with Former Members and Families. Carol also
wrote the “Exit Counseling” chapter for that book.
With Noel by her side, Carol was able to create a respectful
and comprehensive approach to cult recovery. We have
been so lucky to have Carol and Noel: They have touched so
many lives and provided incredible examples of integrity,
professional ethics, and compassion in our field that will
inspire us for generations to come.
Acceptance by Carol Giambalvo
I’m struggling to find the
appropriate words to express my
deep gratitude for this award. If
Noel were standing next to me at
this moment, his words would just
flow. The path we walked together
in working with AFF/ICSA has
been long and meaningful.
In the early days of our affiliation,
Noel and I would have discussions about how wonderful it
felt to find an organization that was nuanced, had a desire
to serve in this arena, and above all, would listen and was
respectful! It actually didn’t feel any longer that we were
being patted on the head as “these poor, poor people
who were in a cult,” and not as if we couldn’t possibly have
something to offer.
It has been truly a pleasure to both Noel and me to
participate and support ICSA over 30 years. I cannot imagine
any other organization where we would have the privilege to
participate with researchers, families, therapists, and former
members in such a meaningful way. And I must include the
special therapists who gave up their business time in order to
volunteer to facilitate recovery workshops for over 25 years!
And a special “Thank you” to Herb Rosedale, RIP, and Michael
Langone.
Noel and I are truly grateful for this wonderful opportunity to
learn and grow and support others in doing the same. And
we’re truly honored and grateful for this meaningful lifetime
award.
Herbert L. Rosedale Award to
Rita Swan
Presentation and Acceptance for Rita Swan
by Janet Heimlich, Founder of the Child-
Friendly Faith Project
Anyone who follows the issue of
religious child maltreatment—
particularly cases in which children
die from “faith healing”-related
medical neglect—has heard of Dr.
Rita Swan. I have had the honor
of knowing Dr. Swan for the past
decade both as a colleague and as
a friend.
Dr. Swan began fighting to protect the health, safety, and
lives of children before most people had ever heard of
religiously enabled abuse and neglect. Tragically, she and
her husband Doug had experienced the problem firsthand.
They had been members of the Christian Science Church, an
organization that has discouraged members from seeking
medical care for themselves and their loved ones. As Dr. Swan
writes in her memoir, The Last Strawberry, she and Doug, both
having been indoctrinated in the Church’s teachings, allowed
their young son Matthew to die from spinal meningitis in
1977.
Following Matthew’s death, Dr. Swan educated herself about
the Church’s dangerous teachings and, in 1983, founded the
nonprofit organization Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty,
or CHILD. Its efforts focused on convincing state legislatures
to repeal dangerous religious exemptions that prevent adults
who harm their children through faith-based medical neglect
from being prosecuted. This was no small feat. In fact, there
were times when Dr. Swan and Doug temporarily moved
to a state’s capitol city to try to talk sense into lawmakers.
Even with the challenges, CHILD made significant progress.
Through Dr. Swan’s indefatigable efforts, five states fully
repealed their religious exemptions.
Even now in retirement, Dr.
Swan continues to advocate
for young people, especially
those who are hurt by religious
rituals and beliefs. She serves
on the board of CHILDUSA and
is an advisor of the nonprofit
I founded, the Child-Friendly
Faith Project. I can think of
no individual who is more
deserving of the Herbert L. Rosedale Award than Dr. Rita
Swan. n
in Colorado for 25 years and in Connecticut for 11 years. In
fact, Carol was instrumental in deciding that the Connecticut
workshop be focused on those born/raised in cults as she
foresaw the needs of this population and wanted ICSA to
meet them in this comprehensive way.
She has written 14 scholarly articles that have been
published, and two books: Exit Counseling, and with Herb
Rosedale, The Boston Movement. Carol and I wrote the article
on the Colorado Model for recovery workshops for the first
issue of ICSA Today in 2010. Carol and Nancy Miquelon wrote
the chapter on this model in Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide
to Working with Former Members and Families. Carol also
wrote the “Exit Counseling” chapter for that book.
With Noel by her side, Carol was able to create a respectful
and comprehensive approach to cult recovery. We have
been so lucky to have Carol and Noel: They have touched so
many lives and provided incredible examples of integrity,
professional ethics, and compassion in our field that will
inspire us for generations to come.
Acceptance by Carol Giambalvo
I’m struggling to find the
appropriate words to express my
deep gratitude for this award. If
Noel were standing next to me at
this moment, his words would just
flow. The path we walked together
in working with AFF/ICSA has
been long and meaningful.
In the early days of our affiliation,
Noel and I would have discussions about how wonderful it
felt to find an organization that was nuanced, had a desire
to serve in this arena, and above all, would listen and was
respectful! It actually didn’t feel any longer that we were
being patted on the head as “these poor, poor people
who were in a cult,” and not as if we couldn’t possibly have
something to offer.
It has been truly a pleasure to both Noel and me to
participate and support ICSA over 30 years. I cannot imagine
any other organization where we would have the privilege to
participate with researchers, families, therapists, and former
members in such a meaningful way. And I must include the
special therapists who gave up their business time in order to
volunteer to facilitate recovery workshops for over 25 years!
And a special “Thank you” to Herb Rosedale, RIP, and Michael
Langone.
Noel and I are truly grateful for this wonderful opportunity to
learn and grow and support others in doing the same. And
we’re truly honored and grateful for this meaningful lifetime
award.
Herbert L. Rosedale Award to
Rita Swan
Presentation and Acceptance for Rita Swan
by Janet Heimlich, Founder of the Child-
Friendly Faith Project
Anyone who follows the issue of
religious child maltreatment—
particularly cases in which children
die from “faith healing”-related
medical neglect—has heard of Dr.
Rita Swan. I have had the honor
of knowing Dr. Swan for the past
decade both as a colleague and as
a friend.
Dr. Swan began fighting to protect the health, safety, and
lives of children before most people had ever heard of
religiously enabled abuse and neglect. Tragically, she and
her husband Doug had experienced the problem firsthand.
They had been members of the Christian Science Church, an
organization that has discouraged members from seeking
medical care for themselves and their loved ones. As Dr. Swan
writes in her memoir, The Last Strawberry, she and Doug, both
having been indoctrinated in the Church’s teachings, allowed
their young son Matthew to die from spinal meningitis in
1977.
Following Matthew’s death, Dr. Swan educated herself about
the Church’s dangerous teachings and, in 1983, founded the
nonprofit organization Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty,
or CHILD. Its efforts focused on convincing state legislatures
to repeal dangerous religious exemptions that prevent adults
who harm their children through faith-based medical neglect
from being prosecuted. This was no small feat. In fact, there
were times when Dr. Swan and Doug temporarily moved
to a state’s capitol city to try to talk sense into lawmakers.
Even with the challenges, CHILD made significant progress.
Through Dr. Swan’s indefatigable efforts, five states fully
repealed their religious exemptions.
Even now in retirement, Dr.
Swan continues to advocate
for young people, especially
those who are hurt by religious
rituals and beliefs. She serves
on the board of CHILDUSA and
is an advisor of the nonprofit
I founded, the Child-Friendly
Faith Project. I can think of
no individual who is more
deserving of the Herbert L. Rosedale Award than Dr. Rita
Swan. n
