SAAM

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States.  The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.  Each day, people witness a continuum of behaviors that range from being respectful and safe, to sexually abusive and violent.

The 2011 national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign explores common, everyday behaviors and offers individuals viable, responsible ways to intervene.  This primary prevention approach helps to create environments where people are safe in their relationships, families, neighborhoods, schools, work places and communities.  This year’s SAAM brings together resources and information, thus offering everyone the opportunity to address behaviors before sexual violence occurs.

 

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From our SAAM Subcommittee co-chairs:

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Hi SAAM Organizers (Official & Unofficial)!

We hope this season of preparation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month has been treating you well and has energized you! If you haven’t begun your planning, we’ve included various ideas that might help you create action in your communities. If you have any questions, please contact us at the information below.

NATIONAL SAAM 2011 THEME: This year’s national theme is “It’s time….to get involved.” It can be seen as a bystander intervention approach to prevention or as a way to get the conversations started to involve individuals at all levels to address violence in the very primary stages, to prevent sexual violence later. To read more about this year’s theme, follow this link: http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/current-campaign For an easy breakdown of the Spectrum of Prevention (in English and Spanish), and corresponding event/project ideas, click this link: http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/resources

PROCLAMATIONS: We’ve included a proclamation template from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (follow this link for more of their resources: http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/resources ) and the version the Governor’s Office will be signing. Feel free to create your own proclamations or adjust this as necessary for your individual communities.

DENIM DAY: This year’s Denim Day will take place on Wednesday, April 27th. For details, follow this link: http://denimdayinla.org/ . If you’d like to host Denim Day in your community and need denim, please let us know. We collect denim all year and are open to sharing what we have. There are fun, easy ways to involve members in your community and we’d be glad to help you brainstorm what will work best in your area. We’ve included an article from last year that was written by a survivor and can be tailored for this year’s Denim Day media releases.

SAAM DAY OF ACTION: The 2011 SAAM Day of Action is April 5th. To learn more about the SAAM Day of Action, follow this link: http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/what-is-saam/day-of-action#Overview

BE THE SOLUTION: The Washington State Coalition created the Be The Solution Campaign for  SAAM 2010. Take a look here: http://www.wasaam.org/ NCASV  has had great experiences with this campaign as it’s quick, easy and fun for participants. It can be done at trainings, meetings, presentations, etc. for all ages, communities and sectors. A few pictures are attached.

SCREENING OF “BOYS & MEN HEALING” FILM: This film was shown at the 2010 NCASV/NACPA Annual Conference. If you haven’t viewed the film, please visit the website, read about the project and watch the trailer: http://www.bigvoicepictures.com/boys-and-men-healing/ The Coalition has the film available for your use in your communities and can help to create a panel of professionals after the viewing. As a bonus, the filmmakers have agreed to give NCASV 50% of all proceeds from the film purchased at the screenings.

COMMUNITY TRAININGS: We encourage you to use April’s SAAM focus to address multiple audiences regarding sexual assault and sexual assault prevention. If you need presentation ideas, material or target audience ideas, please contact NCASV.

WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES: The official website for this project is http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/ . Please remember your program must receive written approval from the organization in order to participate. This is easy approval to receive, it just needs to be done. A WAM toolkit is attached.

LIBRARY DISPLAYS & BOOK CLUBS: A library display toolkit has been attached. This is an elongated version that starts months in advance but these steps can certainly be done in a much shorter time period. There is also a template for requesting a display in your community’s library(ies). You might also consider choosing a book which discusses sexual violence or any piece of the prevention spectrum, and holding a book club for the month. If you need book suggestions, please contact us.

SOCIAL NETWORKING BLASTS: Using your social networking pages to give quick information to your followers is a great way to keep sexual assault awareness “top of mind” for the month of April (and all year long). The Coalition will make these available each day on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Feel free to follow us (links are below) and share what we post or create your own! Here is a list of posts you can use from the NSVRC http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/file/SAAM/SAAM_2011-SocialNetworking.pdf .

PRESS RELEASES/MEDIA: We encourage you to share press releases (samples and media toolkits from various state coalitions http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/media-resources ), articles (by your agency and/or agency partners, NCASV or survivors), letters to the editors (NSVRC template: http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/file/SAAM/SAMM_2011-LetterToEditor.pdf )  and other submissions with your local media, no matter how large or small the events, projects or outlets may be. If you’re looking for media contacts, or would like to share yours, please contact us.

COALITION STATEWIDE PSA: This link http://vodpod.com/watch/5184499-nevada-coalition-against-sexual-violencep-s-a-step-in will lead you to the “Step In” Public Service Announcement we created. You’ve most likely watched it on television during shows with strong Males, 16-24 year old viewership. If so, let us know what you think! J We encourage you to share the PSA on your web-based forums! If you’d like to ask your local programmers (television stations, university/college monitors, school classrooms, business outlets, etc.) to run this PSA, please do so. We’ll help you to gain access to the material necessary for display.

If you’ve already begun planning and have details for your events and efforts, please let us know. We’re working on a SAAM NEVADA CALENDAR to allow all of us to share our efforts. This will allow us to see the variety of work that is happening throughout the state and to be aware of the dates and times to avoid overlap and lend support (and attendance) when possible.

Thanks for all you do! We hope this will be helpful in your efforts to raise awareness about sexual violence in April! J

Kari Ramos & Jan Lucerini
NCASV SAAM Subcommittee Co-Chairs
Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence