Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) & Child Abuse Prevention Month

Hope House is working with community partners on a number of awareness projects this April. We'll add information as we get it so please check back for more information on what we are doing for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Wear Jeans on April 28th for Denim Day

Denim Day is in honor of a young Italian woman who was raped by her driving instructor. He was convicted, but he appealed and the judges overturned the conviction. The judges decided that "...because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape, but consensual sex."

Denim Day was created as a message in protest of victim-blaming. We need to start by believing survivors and not blame them for the sexual assault that someone else committed against them.

Join us in wearing jeans and consider making a donation to Hope House via Facebook or Paypal. Take a photo of yourself wearing jeans and post it on Facebook or Instagram with the reason why you're wearing jeans. Please tag us @hopehousescw. Thank you for your support!

April 29th Webinar: Keeping Kids & Teens Safe Online

On April 29th from noon-1pm, Hope House is hosting a webinar, Keeping Kids and Teens Safe Online. For parents/guardians and those that work with youth, this presentation has been adapted from netsmartz.org and addresses inappropriate content, online privacy, sexting, online enticement, and cyberbullying.

Click on the flyer for more information. Questions? Contact Deb at 608-356-9123 x120 or email her here. Click here to register.

Other Date-Specific Displays and Events

April 1: Accessorize in Blue Day! On April 1, join Hope House in accessorizing in blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Blue is the color for child abuse awareness. Wear blue nail polish, wristbands, face paint, socks, etc. and share that you’re wearing blue to show that you want all kids and families to feel supported and thrive. Share photos on Instagram or Facebook and tag @hopehousescw.
April 6: Wear Teal for the SAAM Day of Action. Please wear teal, the color of sexual assault awareness, to signal that you support survivors, and are a safe person to talk to if they need to reach out. Share photos on Instagram or Facebook and tag @hopehousescw.
April 15: Understanding the Resources: Sexual Assault Advocates: On April 15 from noon-1pm, a Hope House Advocate will be on the Zoom call to talk about how UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus students can access our services. Join the call here.
April 5-30: For Child Abuse Prevention Month, Hope House has a blue pinwheel display on our front yard with yard signs. Stop by and take one home. Each pinwheel has a card with a quote about kids on it with Hope House information.

Month-Long Activities

#30DaysofSAAM on Instagram: Join Hope House in participating in the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s #30daysofSAAM. Each day in April, they’ll provide an open-ended prompt that participants respond to with a photo, collage, illustration, digital art, video, or other original content. You have a chance to win prizes every day you participate. Watch what Hope House posts on our Instagram page @hopehousescw.
Teal and blue sashes around trees will be in multiple locations throughout our 5-county service area. These sashes have signs attached to them that bring awareness of sexual assault and child abuse and of Hope House services. Look for them in Adams-Friendship, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Sauk Prairie, Portage, Rio, Lodi, Wisconsin Dells, Mauston, Necedah, Elroy, Westfield, and Montello.
Read our op-ed on Keeping Kids & Teens Safe Online our our Medium site and look for it in your local newspaper.

Bitmoji Classrooms

Since Hope House is unable to come into schools, our education team has put together a bitmoji classroom/virtual display for students, parents/guardians, school staff, and youth service providers to explore! Inspired by librarians and educators, we made two classrooms for April. If you're not familiar with bitmoji classrooms, each image you click on takes you to a different link - even the water bottle and colored pencils! We encourage you to share these classrooms on your websites or social media platforms!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month bitmoji classroom with resources for teens, including supportive resources, self-care ideas, and YA books!
Child Abuse Prevention Month bitmoji classroom with resources for parents/guardians and those that work with K-5 students, including supportive resources, self-care ideas, children’s picture books, and books for adults!

Sexual Assault Awareness Month bitmoji classroom (teen focus)

Child Abuse Prevention Month bitmoji classroom

Resources

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

The NSVRC is the go-to resource for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Their national theme this year is We Can Build Safe Online Spaces.

Check out their site for graphics, blog posts, survivor resources, social media posts, the #30DaysofSAAM Instagram contest, coloring pages, and more.

Start By Believing

Is a public awareness campaign designed by End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) to change the way we respond to rape and sexual assault in our communities. Check out their website to make your personal commitment and to view their many campaign resources, such as printed materials, articles, talking points, proclamations, brochures, and promotional materials.

Flip the Switch

Champion Gymnast, Aly Raisman announced a partnership with Darkness to Light through the Flip the Switch campaign. This campaign calls on all adults involved in youth sports to complete Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training, with the online training offered at no cost. Learn more here.

Stop It Now!

Stop It Now! prevents the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed. Educate yourself and your community by downloading their materials and read about ways to get involved with prevention efforts!

National Child Abuse Prevention Month from Child Welfare Information Gateway

The Child Welfare Information Gateway's National Child Abuse Prevention Month website has their outreach toolkit, sample messages, graphics, and more!