Statesboro proclaims April as months for autism awareness, child-abuse prevention and sexual-assault awareness

Mayor Jonathan McCollough and the Statesboro City Council on the meeting day issued three proclamations recognizing April 2025 as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

The proclamations were presented to local advocates and service providers including presenters from the Behavioral Pediatric Resource Center, Danielle Harris (Isaiah 5 Data Incorporated), Rachel Bryant of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Laura Cooper of the Positive Childhood Alliance (Bullock), and a representative of the Teal House regional sexual-assault center.

The Behavioral Pediatric Resource Center presenter described a local program to supply reflective "occupant has autism" vehicle decals and optional information sheets that families may give to law enforcement. The presenter said the decals are designed to be placed on the rear driver-side upper window and that families may provide proof of diagnosis when they pick up a decal; law enforcement will not retain information families do not choose to leave. The presenter said the decals and information sheet are intended to help officers and other emergency responders recognize, in advance, that someone in a vehicle or residence may have autism and to provide responders with guidance about communication, sensory sensitivities and risks such as elopement. The presenter said the police and sheriff’s offices will distribute decals during business hours and that the program received a grant to expand training to EMS and fire personnel later in 2025.

Rachel Bryant, president of the Zeta Phi Beta Zeta chapter, thanked the city for the proclamation and urged residents to wear autism-awareness ribbons during April.

Laura Cooper of the Positive Childhood Alliance (Bullock) accepted the child-abuse prevention proclamation and emphasized that prevention work must continue year-round. Cooper summarized local prevention efforts including the First Steps program for families with children birth to 5 and described partnerships across schools, health providers, law enforcement and community organizations. She said Georgia’s ranking on child and family well-being shows work remains to be done and added, "We need to work together as an alliance."

A Teal House representative accepted the sexual-assault awareness proclamation and noted the regional center has served hundreds of victims since 2007, thanking the city and law enforcement for support. The representative said raising awareness of services is critical and repeated a national statistic cited during the presentation: "Every 68 seconds, someone is a victim of sexual assault."

The council presented proclamations and recognized partner organizations; no formal council action or funding changes were announced during the proclamations segment.

Looking ahead, presenters said training for police and sheriff’s personnel has occurred and that grant-supported training for EMS and fire staff is planned for later in 2025. The Behavioral Pediatric Resource Center representative offered to answer follow-up questions about decal distribution and the optional family information sheets.