April marks abuse prevention month

NEWTON — April marks National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Crime Victim Rights Week.
Community agencies are partnering on April 20th to raise awareness of these issues and to present strategies to prevent sexual violence, with a focus on engaging the community in efforts to bring awareness and solutions to the epidemic of sexual violence. Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Services (DASI), the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newton Police Department and Ginnie’s House Children’s Advocacy Center will present The Clothesline Project and Coffee with a Cop.
The Clothesline Project will be displayed in Newton Town Square to honor victims and survivors of sexual violence and child abuse in a visual protest that bears witness to the pain and courage of those who have suffered. Shirts decorated by survivors and those who care about them reflect each person’s experience with interpersonal violence.
The concept of The Clothesline Project is simple – let each person tell her/his own story in a unique way and hang it out for all to see. It is a way of “airing society’s dirty laundry”. T-shirts and material will be provided for those who wish to make their own visual statements about domestic violence, sexual assault or childhood victimization.
The public is invited to have Coffee With a Cop from 10 a.m until 12:30 p.m., this will be followed by Sussex County Freeholder Phil Crabb proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Child Abuse Prevention Month. The programming also includes remarks by distinguished guest Sussex County Prosecutor Francis A. Koch. The day’s event will also include recognizing outstanding community members with the Community Partner Award.
Sexual violence prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six boys and one in four girls will experience a sexual assault before the age 18 and young people experience heightened rates of sexual violence. National statistics indicate that youth ages 12-17 are 2.5 times as likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault. One in five women will be a victim of completed or attempted sexual assault while in college.
The 2016 Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign will focus on the building blocks of prevention by communicating how individuals, communities, and the private sector can take action to promote safety, respect, and equality. Learn how you can play a role in promoting a healthy foundation for relationships, development and sexual violence prevention by contacting the DASI primary prevention team at info@dasi.org.
The public is invited to join the conversation and learn how to take action to make this community safer by attending the events that offer hope and solutions to the epidemic of sexual violence. Join us in helping everyone to see their role in preventing sexual violence.
For more information, call DASI at 973-579-2386.