Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No place is free from these
crimes – home, work, school or, even, a military installation. In fact, according to RAINN, more than 18,000 military members report unwanted sexual contact each year.
April marks Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To help raise awareness on the subjects of child abuse and sexual assault within the Redstone community, the Family Advocacy Program and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention program are hosting a 5K run April 1. The race is set for 7 a.m. with registration at 6:30. There will also be a one-mile walk.
“The race kicks off Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Awareness Month,” Larry Gray, sexual assault response coordinator, said. “In the 2000s, a lot of rapes and sexual assaults were reported here. This event is to bring awareness.”
Child Abuse Awareness Month recognizes the efforts made in bringing this issue to the forefront of people’s attention.
“It is extremely important that the RSA community remain vigilant when it comes to recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect,” Tim Rolfe, family advocacy program manager, said. “Especially with our mandated reporters, which includes practically everyone in the RSA community (social workers, medical staff, law enforcement, teachers, child development center workers, counselors and service members) to name a few.
“Child safety and well-being relies heavily on a coordinated community effort that is always alert and aware.”
The Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign aims to increase awareness about the causes and risk factors for sexual assault and empower individuals to take steps to prevent it in their communities.
Gray said there will be Garrison contests and events throughout April, including an outdoor yoga event April 13.
“Yoga is another way to have clients deal with the post-trauma,” he said.
Other events are Teal Tuesday, Garrison members wear teal (the sexual assault awareness ribbon color); a Garrison SHARP door contest April 1-18, with the best decorated door showing SHARP awareness winning a prize; SHARP Question of the Month, questions are emailed to Garrison members and winners receive SHARP awareness prizes.
Along with the 5K run, the Family Advocacy Program is hosting several events next month, including two Facebook Live presentations.
· April 11: FB Live – Creating a Positive Parenting Environment – Parents learn how to create a more positive home environment that will enable their child to thrive.
· April 13: Scream Free Parenting – Parents learn how to better recognize their emotional reactivity and improve how they respond and communicate with their children.
· April 20: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences – Parents learn how adverse childhood experiences and trauma can impact their child’s health and well-being and what they can do to become more aware and prevent such experiences.
· April 25: FB Live - Developing Resilience for yourself and your child – Parents learn how to raise children to be more resilient and increase their ability to bounce back from adversity.
· April 27: How Your Child’s Temperament Impacts Your Parenting – Parents will explore the many ways their child’s temperament can impact their parenting approach and how to avoid common pitfalls.
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