MONROE — The Sexual Assault Recovery Program and the national Sexual Assault Awareness Month are celebrating their 20th anniversary in April.
The Sexual Assault Recovery Program (SARP), a program of Family Services of Southern WI and Northern IL, Inc., is a community-based advocacy program providing services to survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. Since 2001, SARP advocates have provided support to survivors through a variety of services including response to hospitals and law enforcement, a 24-hour hotline, legal advocacy, individual and group services, referral and information services. Services through SARP are free, confidential, and extended to both survivors and loved one of survivors.
April was deemed Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) following decades of marches, events, and other observances to raise awareness of the impact of sexual assault. The intention of SAAM is simple- how can we prevent an issue if we don’t know about it? The National Sexual Violence Resource Center polled coalitions and local service providers to find a symbol to represent these awareness efforts: the teal ribbon as a symbol for sexual assault awareness was born. Every year since, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center coordinates a national SAAM campaign.
SARP has worked this year to bring SAAM to the community as awareness is crucial to both the support of survivors as well as the prevention of future assaults. In the month of April, SARP will be holding various SAAM events in both Rock and Green county, as well as several virtual events. Events will kick off at 7 p.m. April 9 with a Facebook Live Panel focused on art as a healing tool for survivors; a survivor artist and an art therapist will share how art and other creative outlets can be powerful tools for a survivor. This event will then open a virtual art show featuring art from survivors of sexual assault. On April 23, SARP will then host a Take Back the Night at Putnam Park in Brodhead. SARP will then wrap up the month with “What Were You Wearing” virtual event on Facebook Live on April 30. Throughout April, SARP will also have displays or booths at libraries and school across the county.
To learn more about SARP, follow SARP on Facebook and check out its website at www.sarpwi.com. Interested parties can also find a calendar of SAAM events SARP is hosting. For more information on SAAM, please visit nsvrs.org.
Those who have been sexually assaulted, or know someone who has, and need help — are urged to reach out to their 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-666-4576.