Despite reduced funding and budget cuts, sexual assault programs put sexual assault prevention and awareness center stage for the month of April. Programs throughout the state made powerful statements, staged creative events, and made a difference in their communities. Here are highlights of events submitted to FCASV. The list is not exhaustive and only represents the activities that came to our attention, but please use the information to network, collaborate, and generate ideas for next year’s events!

Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
FCASV sponsored a SAAM event at the Capitol. Representatives Snyder and Jenne welcomed participants and provided a brief overview of the major issues affecting rape survivors and rape crisis centers during this legislative session. Participants then visited the office of all 160 legislators to distribute informational packets and educate them on the needs of victims of sexual violence.

Betty Griffin House
Betty Griffin House posted a fantastic “Take Back the Night” video on You Tube. Take a look!
They also coordinated a month long event with the Hastings Library in St. John’s County. The Hastings librarian made a display in the front of the library highlighting Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the resources (books, videos, DVDs) available at the library.

Project Help
Project Help sponsored Denim Day asking members of their community to donate $5 to Project HELP and wear denim to work to honor and empower survivors of Sexual Assault. They also sponsored an event at Hurricane Grill & Wings with 10% of the proceeds benefiting Project HELP. Finally, Project Help provided local businesses with free training workshops on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace.

Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center
Representatives from the center visited Alachua County high schools to teach students the rules of “respecting your date.” The Respect Your Date Contest is designed to raise awareness and prevention of dating violence, and participants in the program entered a drawing for prizes that included a free tuxedo rental and manicures – a big draw for students planning to attend the high school prom.

Sunrise of Pasco County
The East Pasco Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force met and had eight speakers, including a Sunrise counselor reading a victim’s statement, a representative from Pasco County Schools describing school-based programs addressing sexual assault, and reports from law enforcement and child protective investigations. A legislative update was given and information provided on the new law addressing non-reporting victims. Megan Hussey, a reporter from the Tampa Tribune, attended the Task Force meeting and wrote an in-depth article that appeared in the Tribune on April 18th. Sunrise also participated in Denim Day during which businesses, agencies and schools posted sexual violence information and participants wore “Why Denim” stickers to raise awareness.

Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies
CARE victim advocates spent Sexual Assault Awareness Day distributing materials to businesses in Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and Murdock. Carolyn Quinn, reporter for the Charlotte Sun-Herald, printed a story on the program’s SAAM activities.

The Women’s Center of Jacksonville
The Florida Times-Union newspaper published an informative article for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The article provided government statistics on sexual assault and highlighted the rape crisis support services offered by the Women’s Center.

Lakeview Center
About 160 people participated in a 5K run/walk, Run for Their Lives, sponsored by the Lakeview Center to raise awareness of rape and other violent crimes. Proceeds from the event benefited the Lakeview Trauma Recovery Program. The run was organized to bring the community together around issues of sexual assault and to support those who have been victims of violent crime. An article on the run was printed in the April 6th edition of the Pensacola News Journal.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
The Crisis Center presented the 6th Annual “Take Back the Night Candle Light Vigil and Speak Out.” The event was held at the Temple Terrace United Methodist Church and featured keynote speakers Veraunda Jackson, Esq. and Captain Bob Staehle.

Family Life Center
The center sponsored numerous events throughout the month. Some highlights include:
• The Flagler County Sexual Assault Task Force hosted an informational booth during the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.
• Proclamation Ceremony and Rape Prevention Training, “Justice for Victims, Justice for All. The event included free continental breakfast, goodie bags, live performances, and children’s activities during the training to encourage community participation.
• The Flagler County Sexual Assault Task Force presented multiple classes using the Rape: Get the Facts curriculum. Representatives from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department went to the schools during lunch to assist students in making t-shirts for the clothesline display and to distribute information and materials. The outreach was expected to reach over 2,500 teens.
• Awareness is Power Rally was held at the Flagler Beach Park. T-shirts decorated with messages from sexual assault survivors were displayed throughout the park. The rally offered live music, free food, bounce house for children, cake walks, Sheriff’s canine demonstrations and sexual violence information and materials. The event was open to the entire community.
• The Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Libraries participated in SAAM by displaying a t-shirt clothesline during the month of April.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
The University’s Counseling Center sponsored a Clothesline Project on campus during which local agencies set up display tables highlighting sexual violence services and providing information and materials. Materials were available for students to design t-shirts for the campus-based Clothesline Project. FAMU also held a survivors' ceremony on campus which featured songs and poetry written by survivors and time for a survivors’ speak-out.

State Attorney, 19th Circuit Sexual Assault Assistance Program
The Sexual Assault Assistance Program provided local libraries with an updated sexual violence book/video/DVD list. The librarians were pleased to have the information because the library's sexual violence materials were outdated; the library staff agreed to order as many of the newer materials as possible.

Dawn Center of Hernando County
The center staff decided to give out wooden roses instead of teal ribbons during SAAM activities. The website for the roses is http://www.wooden-rose.com/usa/.

Planning and Publicizing:
Instructions
Event Planning Guide
Activities List
Label
Postcard
Ribbon Card
Flyer
Tear Off

Expanding Our Reach:
Reaching Out
Long History
Inviting Policy Makers
Letter to Community Leaders
Letter to Religious Community Members
MySpace Primer
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Information
Steps for Creating a SART

Working with the Media:
Writing Media Releases
Media Release
Media Advisory
Day of Event Release

Logo Files:
Black and White PNG Logo
Color PNG Logo
Black and White JPEG Logo
Color JPEG Logo
Spanish PNG Logo
Spanish GIF Logo
Spanish PDF Logo

Images from Previous SAAM Events