The Bellefontaine City Council chamber was filled to near capacity Friday morning for the 25th Annual Sexual Assault Awareness ceremony, held in conjunction with April’s designation as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Elected officials, law enforcement officers, and members of care-giving organizations turned out in force to celebrate this year’s theme: 25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward.
The ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), designating April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). According to the NSVRC website, the organization helps coordinate the SAAM campaign with states each year, “complete with the resources, graphics, and tools needed to hold an event or otherwise raise awareness.”
Deborah Brownlee, Program Director for the TCN Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Center, acknowledged that sexual assault awareness is important in order to help victims be aware that there are many services available to assist them. She said that state funding allows her agency to bring the message of hope to victims of sexual assault to area schools, including age-appropriate information for students as young as kindergarten:
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of three Certificates of Excellence recognizing efforts to assist victims of sexual assault. Those honored were:
- The REACH Community Resource Center, represented by Stacy McLaughlin and Mikaela Mohr
- The Mary Rutan Health SAFE Program, represented by Mary Sebring and Brenda Price
- Mary Rutan Health Emergency Department Director Dr. Grace Rodriguez
Director Brownlee talked about the important role community organizations play in helping victims of sexual assault:
For information about how to support those affected by sexual assault or domestic violence, call New Directions at 937-593-5777 or visit their website here.
