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Dickinson County proclaims April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Summary
Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and heard a presentation from a campus advocate about local services and prevention work by DVAC.
The Dickinson County Commission voted unanimously to adopt a proclamation declaring April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and heard a presentation from a local campus advocate on services and outreach.
Carly Sinkler, campus sexual-assault advocate at DVAC (Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas) in Salina, asked the commission to adopt the proclamation and read its text, citing statewide and local statistics and describing DVAC’s services. The proclamation notes statewide reporting intervals, demographic breakdowns cited from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and local figures: "In Dickinson County, 10 incidents were reported in 2023," Sinkler said, emphasizing that reported incidents undercount the true number of survivors.
The proclamation stresses the need for public education, support for survivors and improved response systems. Sinkler described DVAC’s 24/7 confidential advocacy in Dickinson County, a pet-friendly emergency shelter, court advocacy and outreach covering 10 counties in central and northern Kansas. She said DVAC can respond to after-hours calls within 30 minutes, accompany survivors to forensic exams, help with safety planning and follow survivors through court proceedings. "We are there to support them in a nonjudgmental manner," she said.
Commissioners asked how people contact DVAC and about funding and volunteer opportunities. Sinkler said DVAC is primarily grant-funded, that the organization has shifted some positions to state funding after reductions in Victims of Crime Act funding, and that community donations and volunteers support survivor needs not covered by grants. She provided a phone number and dvack.org as contact points.
After brief discussion the commission member moved adoption of the proclamation and a second was given. The motion carried with the commission answering "aye." The commission president said staff would provide a signed copy of the proclamation to the presenter.
The commission meeting record shows commissioners encouraged public awareness and community support for DVAC’s work, and the presenter listed upcoming awareness events, outreach and a public screening on technology-facilitated abuse. No further formal action was taken beyond adoption of the proclamation.
