Somerset County proclaims April Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners on April proclaimed the month as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, citing the prevalence of sexual violence and local support services.

The proclamation stated the observance was established in April 2001 by a national violence resource center (name not specified in the meeting record) and said sexual violence affects people across genders, orientations, abilities, cultures and backgrounds. It listed common effects on survivors, including depression, anxiety, substance use, unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and suicidal thoughts, and said “the violence often has a lasting impact on survivors' lives and is never the survivor's fault.”

The board invited a representative from Safe and Sound Somerset, the county’s bilingual 24-hour helpline and direct-service nonprofit, to speak. A Safe and Sound Somerset representative told the board, “Safe and Sound, last year, we provided about 7,000 individuals impacted by domestic violence and [sexual] violence” with services and that about 10,000 people participated in the organization’s community education and prevention programs. The proclamation and the speaker noted the county helpline number as (866) 685-1122.

The proclamation encouraged residents, community leaders and policymakers to support survivors and take actions to prevent sexual violence, and referenced this year’s theme, “Together We Act.”