Silver Spring, Md., April 1, 2021 — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a month in which people all over the country work to build a connected community dedicated to ending sexual violence and supporting sexual assault survivors. April 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the first official SAAM.
Communities have the power to help stop sexual violence before it starts. Each year, SAAM brings people together, in-person or virtually, to move communities into action to prevent sexual violence and to honor the experiences of survivors. This year, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) is launching the campaign “Moments Create Movements,” to spotlight how single moments can create major change in the sexual violence prevention movement. During March, MCASA asked for stories from people across Maryland about the small and large ways they help prevent sexual violence and the things their communities could do to promote safety. Throughout April, MCASA will be sharing responses and using these community contributions to guide the direction of prevention work year-round. This will help Marylanders understand the power of their small moments and take action to create movements.
Community members can keep up-to-date with MCASA’s Online #SAAM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Learn more by visiting: https://mcasa.org/prevention/sexual-assault-awareness-month
Support is available to survivors of sexual violence at all times, including during the COVID health crisis. To find information on your local Rape Crisis Center, including hotline numbers and available services, please visit: https://mcasa.org/survivors/find-a-rape-crisis-center. The Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) provides comprehensive legal services related to sexual violence to victims and survivors of sexual assault in Maryland, including child sexual abuse. For legal inquiries, please contact SALI at 301-565-2277.
MCASA is the federally-recognized state sexual assault coalition responsible for certifying comprehensive rape crisis/sexual assault programs to ensure services are survivor-centered. MCASA's core members are the State's 17 rape crisis centers, and the Coalition also represents the voices of many other member professionals, programs, and service providers working with sexual assault survivors. MCASA includes the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), which provides direct legal services to victims of sexual violence across the state of Maryland. MCASA is the leading public policy advocate for survivors of sexual assault in Annapolis and more information about 2021 legislative priorities and services for survivors can be found at www.mcasa.org.
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