By Heidi Van Heuklon, LCPC, Clinical Director, The Center for Prevention of Abuse
Providing public education to the community on the issues of sexual assault is crucial. A great deal of misinformation and myths about sexual assault continue to circulate. At The Center for Prevention of Abuse, we know that we cannot continue to make progress in our goal of ending sexual violence without increasing education about this issue, and asking people to speak out. Staff and counselors receive extensive and ongoing specialized training in the area of sexual abuse, enabling them to provide accurate information even before offering direct services.
It is very likely that most people in our community know someone who has experienced sexual assault. National statistics show that one in six people will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Envision a typical school classroom; that statistic translates to multiple children per class. Both males and females are at risk for becoming the recipient of an unwanted sexual experience as adults. While crime rates of sexual victimization have dropped over the last 20 years, this problem is far from being solved.
A long-held myth about sexual assault is the image of meeting up with a scary-looking male in a dark alley. Unfortunately, the reality of sexual assault is that children and adults are most vulnerable in their own living environments, and 93 percent of the time they are sexually assaulted by someone they know, love and trust. The survivors that we see report having been sexually abused by a family member, neighbor, teacher, coach, pastor or friend of the family. Therefore, we strongly believe in the prevention efforts being made nationwide to educate children of all ages about sexual abuse. Last year, in their efforts to end sexual assault, The Center’s prevention educators made presentations to more than 30,000 students in the tri-county area.
The sexual assault movement has gained many allies over the years, which helps to further the goal of ending sexual violence. Over the past five years, sexual assault programs have been working in cooperation with branches of the military, jails, prisons and college campuses, to assist them with their prevention efforts and reporting. This year through the national “No More” campaign, public service announcements have made their way into our television viewing time. During the Super Bowl there were ad campaigns highlighting the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. We consider all of these to be signs of forward progress. The Center continues to advance its efforts to end sexual violence, and we ask you to stand with us. Sexual assault affects our entire community. We all need to speak out and firmly say, “No More.”
The Center for Prevention of Abuse works in Central Illinois to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and the abuse of adults with disabilities. If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, contact The Center for help.
We are available 24/7. All victim services are free and confidential. Individual and group counseling is available to survivors and their family members at no cost. Additionally, The Center provides 24-hour medical advocacy and support to any sexual assault survivor who comes to a local emergency room for a sexual assault exam, along with court advocacy services to assist survivors in obtaining legal protection from their offenders or to guide them through the criminal court process. Call: 309-691-0551 Crisis Line: 800-559-SAFE (7233) Visit us online: www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org.
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