Sexual Assault Awareness Month/April 2023
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is dedicated to raising community awareness about sexual assault and educating the public on how to prevent sexual violence and support survivors.
Teal Day, Wednesday, April 5
Wayne County Commissioners 2023 SAAM Proclamation
Wednesday, April 5th
Holmes County Commissioners
Monday, April 3rd 10am
SAAM Library Books
There are SAAM displays with book lists in each of the Wayne County Public Library branches and the book list is also available on the WCPL website: https://www.wcpl.info/content/april-sexual-assault-awareness-month
Crochet for a Cause
If you knit or crochet, you can show your support for survivors by creating an item that will be gifted to a survivor, as part of the 2023 Crochet for a Cause initiative. Stop at OneEighty in either Wooster or Millersburg and pick up teal yarn for your project.
SAAM Blog
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), aimed at raising community awareness and public education about sexual violence prevention, public education about how to support survivors, and sharing available resources.
Statistically speaking
- In the United States, an individual is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds.
- 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in the United States has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.
- Rape and sexual assault affect women, children, and men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, while ages 12-34 are the highest risk years.
- 8 out of 10 (80%) sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.
- Emotional and physical trauma resulting from sexual violence is often severe and long lasting; vctims may experience such adverse consequences as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, major depression, homelessness, eating disorders, and suicide.
- Sexual assault may coincide with an intimate partner relationship. In fact, 33% of the time, rape is committed by a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. While eight out of ten sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim, an acquaintance (39%) or non-spouse relative (2.5%), the majority of these crimes are NOT related to domestic violence.
For survivors that aren’t sure where to go for assistance immediately following an assault or even months or years later, OneEighty can help. Victim advocates are social workers that specialize in supporting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. They also facilitate a support group called Empower for survivors of intimate partner. For those community members seeking professional mental health services, OneEighty also offers counseling services by a staff of licensed clinical therapists. The agency accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, and offers a sliding fee schedule for Wayne County residents.
OneEighty is dedicated to the prevention of sexual violence through its education, community outreach, and victim advocacy efforts. The agency’s trained staff offers comprehensive and compassionate services for survivors.
Additionally, the Community Relations and Prevention Department conducts numerous presentations in the community, upon request. The staff works with volunteer groups, churches, public and private schools, colleges, community groups, social service organizations, law enforcement, and businesses with the goal of spreading the word about the breadth of services the agency offers, the importance of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and stalking prevention, and to dispel myths and share current information. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, please contact Gayle Byrne at byrneg@one-eighty.org
There is a display in the reception area at OneEighty (104 Spink Street). Stop by and pick up a magnet, bookmark, adult coloring pages, teal ribbon stickers, and the 2003 SAAM Activities Calendar.
You may wonder what you can do individually to impact the effort to prevent sexual violence and to support survivors. You can do a lot: Lift your voice by speaking up when you hear victim blaming. Shut down rape jokes. Correct harmful misconceptions. Promote everyday consent. And practice healthy communication with children.
If you have questions regarding how to seek support such as medical attention or emergency shelter, please call OneEighty’s 24-hour Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-686-1122 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 (NNEDV). OneEighty’s main office phone number is 330.264.8498 to schedule an appointment with a victim advocate or mental health counselor.
SAAM Daily Calendar of Events
At OneEighty we are dedicated to the prevention and intervention of sexual assault through education, community outreach, and victim advocacy. We offer comprehensive and compassionate services for survivors.
If you have questions regarding what to do or what happens when you seek support, such as medical attention, you can call OneEighty’s 24-hour Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-686-1122or the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 (NNEDV). OneEighty’s Main Phone number is 330.264.8498.