Dear Friend,

As April begins, it marks the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAP Month). This is a crucial time for us to come together as a community and reflect on the importance of preventing sexual violence, supporting survivors, and educating our communities on the reality of childhood abuse.

SAAM serves as a platform to raise public awareness about sexual violence while CAP Month serves as a platform to raise public awareness about child abuse and educate individuals on how to prevent it. Wings recognizes our place within the intersection of these two efforts and our dedication to uplifting both issues is strong. We believe that true healing happens in community. It is a time for us to stand in solidarity with survivors, advocate for change, and foster a culture of consent, respect, and care.

As part of this important month, here are ways you can get involved and have influence:

Sexual Assault Awareness | The theme for this year is “Our Voices Have Power. Together, We Can Build Safe and Respectful Communities.” SAAM focuses on creating nurturing and supportive environments to reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Whether in neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, organizations, or online spaces, any place where people come together is considered a community. We invite you to show your support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month by wearing teal, the official color of SAAM, and spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #SAAM.

International Anti-Street Harassment Week: From April 14 to 20, raise awareness about street harassment and its impact on individuals.

SAAM Day of Giving: On April 18, support organizations working to prevent sexual violence by donating or spreading the word.

Denim Day: On April 24, people worldwide wear denim to show solidarity with survivors and challenge harmful attitudes, such as “she shouldn’t have been wearing that.”

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 21-27, 2024) also intersects with SAAM, emphasizing the importance victim rights in the lives of survivors of sexual violence.

Colorado:

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Better Tomorrow

Advocates of Routt County

COMMA

Blue Bench

The Phoenix Center at Auraria

Dove

SAVA Center

National:

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

RAINN

me too

Colorado:

Illuminate Colorado

Tree Top Child Advocacy Center

Brighter World Child Advocacy Center

CO4Kids

Denver Children’s Advocacy Center

Safe House Denver

National:

Prevent Child Abuse America

Child Help Hotline

Child Abuse Prevention | The theme for this year is “Building A Hopeful Future, Together.” The focus is on creating nurturing and supportive environments for children and families across the nation. Use the following tags to connect our collective efforts and amplify the message: #BuildingTogether #CAPMonth2024 #HopefulFutures

Digital Advocacy Day: On April 16th, act by contacting your member of Congress and advocating for increased support and funding for child abuse prevention programs. Prevent Child Abuse America provides guidelines and templates to help you effectively reach out to your representatives.

Education as Prevention

A strong tool in uplifting resilience across these issues is education. Knowledge in most instances is power, and power can be used in both beneficial and harmful ways. It is important that education is accessible for everyone of all ages— and that we prioritize helping all children understand at a level that is digestible for them at their age.

  1. A great simple article on key points to talk to kids about childhood sexual abuse.
  2. A state funded trainer who can support trainings for adults around prevention in Colorado.
  3. A toolkit from another organization about CSA prevention this month with information you might find helpful.

As we move through the month of April, please check our social media for content, shares from other community organizations, and highlights of how to support these efforts this month.

If you are a survivor, we are with you. We believe you. We see you. And we rally in community around you.

"People working together in a strong community with a shared goal and a common purpose can make the impossible possible."

— Tom Vilsack

 

Sharing is caring! Please forward this message on to those who need it.

 

Wings
2000 S Colorado Blvd. Tower One, Suite 2000 - 1008 | Denver, Colorado 80222
303-238-8660 | wings@wingsfound.org

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