Sexual Assault Awareness Focus Of Twin Ports Events

Advocates for victims of sexual assault in Douglas County will host a number of events in April to educate residents and raise awareness.

An American is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Last year, Superior’s Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse (CASDA) provided sexual assault services to 158 people in the Twin Ports.

The number of calls the center received has increased in the past few years, according to Jenna Monnier, the center’s triage advocate. She said staff members typically respond to 10 hospital calls due to sexual assault each year, but the center received 33 hospital calls in 2017.

“I don’t believe that necessarily means more sexual assaults are happening,” she said. “I mean they may be, but I really feel like people are feeling more comfortable coming forward and realizing there may be help for them and that there may actually be justice. So, they are coming forward when maybe they weren’t comfortable doing that before.”

Monnier said fear often keeps people from sharing their stories of sexual assault. She said she hopes events the center is offering will give them a voice. Monnier said activist movements like “#Me Too” and “Time’s Up” have brought awareness to issues victims face every day.

However, she said more can be done at the local level.

“We need to see more curriculum in our schools that teaches children about consent and teaches them about healthy relationships and things like that,” she said. “We always see curriculum based on what not to do, but there isn’t a lot out there that teaches kids what is healthy, what is safe, and what they should be doing.”

CASDA provides a variety of services for victims, including an emergency shelter for people in immediate danger.

Events will take place throughout the month of April beginning with a Day of Action on April 3. More information on events is available at https://www.facebook.com/breakthesilencetwinports/.