Refuge House Kicks Out Sexual Assault for National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Gadsden, Franklin, Liberty, and Wakulla Counties

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Refuge House will join 25 Florida communities in honoring sexual assault survivors and their loved ones in our community.  Refuge House is hosting several events and awareness activities through the month of April.

▪ On April 10th at 12:00 noon the Wakulla County Taskforce will host a luncheon at the TCC Annex in Wakulla County, with a speaker who is a sexual violence survivor who will candidly share her story and pathway to healing.

▪Gadsden County will be hosting a Teen Safety & Prevention Celebration on Thursday, April 19th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Corry Field.  This is a celebration for teenagers and their parents to encourage teen safety against sexual violence. The event will consist of music, food, prizes and mega fun.

▪ Join us at a lunch on Friday, April 20th at 11:30 am at the Crooked River Grill at St. James Bay.  The Franklin County Task Force will be hosting Michelle Mabry from the Attorney General'’s office and she will discuss the victim’s compensation process.

▪ Join us for a training on Sexual Violence 101 –April 26th at 12:00 noon at the Harrell Memorial Library in Liberty County.

▪ Please come to the Liberty County High School April 26th at 2:00 pm where there will be a candid conversation about rape and safety with a video on the topic.  Meg Baldwin, Executive Director of Refuge House said, "“Sexual violence affects every member of this community, and it will take everyone in this community working together to end sexual violence.  Tackling this issue may seem like an insurmountable task, but this is an issue we must confront.  This community and every person in it is far too valuable to tolerate sexual violence in any form.”"

Ms. Baldwin went on to say, "“Sexual assault has had a particularly devastating impact on our community.  Refuge House responded to 66 rape crises calls last year and provided counseling to 291 rape victims.  Rape affects not only the victim, but also their brothers and sisters, parents, classmates, significant others, friends— ,everyone they know.”"

For more information on how the public can volunteer in Sexual Assault Awareness Month events or for information on rape prevention education trainings, contact Patricia Smith at (850) 922-6062.

The Florida Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program and Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV), the state coalition of rape crisis centers, sponsor Florida’'s Sexual Assault Awareness Day activities each year.  To contact the Florida Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program call (850) 245-4455 or visit their website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/svpp/index.html.  FCASV can be reached at (888) 956-7273 or through their website at www.fcasv.org.

This article originally published on March 27, 2007.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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