This April, HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Inc. (HelpLine) will engage our communities as part of its annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign. This year’s theme, “Believe Survivors, Change the Culture” builds on the idea that it is time to change the dialogue to end rape culture by engaging new voices, and that new organizations and community members are needed to expand sexual assault prevention efforts and help the next generation foster attitudes that promote healthy relationships, consent, equality and respect. Visit www.helplinedelmor.org/saam for events and resources.
Throughout the month of April, HelpLine in partnership with other community agencies will bring the theme of “Believe Survivors, Change the Culture” to life by providing multiple opportunities and events for survivors, families and their support people to connect, heal and use their voices to share their experience and solidarity. We will also be sharing the many resources and programs HelpLine offers year-round for survivors including our Sexual Assault Response Network (SARN), which provides services in Delaware, Morrow, Crawford, and Wyandot counties.
HelpLine’s SARN program has trained advocates available to assist survivors at the hospital and with law enforcement immediately following an assault and can help connect a survivor to the resources at HelpLine and in our community. Additionally SARN offers: a free, 24-hour information, referral and crisis line at 1.800.684.2324 or text ‘helpline’ to 898211; survivors of sexual assault workshops; one-on-one crisis intervention and advocacy available regardless of when the assault occurred; healing workshops for survivors & their support people; an annual retreat and sexual assault prevention and education.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared violence against women a “global health problem of epidemic proportions.” The only way this epidemic will end is by changing the dialogue, engaging new voices and believing survivors,” says Nancy Radcliffe, HelpLine’s Sexual Assault Services Director. “It is time to stop victim blaming and put the onus of stopping rape on rapists. It is vital we believe survivors and deconstruct rape culture.”
HelpLine is a contract provider of the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and partially funded by SourcePoint. A United Way Partner, HelpLine is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology, National Alliance of Information & Referral Systems and certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
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For additional information visit www.helplinedelmor.org/saam or call 800-684-2324 or text helpline to 898211, for information and referrals call 211.
