CCA Marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month with Events, Resources, and Survivor Support
CCA Marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month with Events, Resources, and Survivor Support
Connecting Communities in Action highlights services, survivor support programs, and community initiatives during April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
This April marks 25 years of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), though its history can be traced back many years before then, as people all over the world have been coming together to end sexual violence since the mid-20th century. Across the country, community organizations will be hosting many different events throughout the month of April to raise awareness and funds while sharing critical resources for victims, witnesses, and survivors. Locally, Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) of Salamanca is honoring survivors and sharing their resources through multiple events and programs next month.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), efforts to bring awareness to sexual violence gained momentum in the 1940s and 1950s as activists fought for civil rights and challenged race-based and gender-based discrimination. The first rape crisis center was founded in San Francisco in 1971, which was also the city where the first American “Take Back the Night” (TBTN) event was held in 1977. TBTN were public protests aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence, particularly against women, in spaces where women were vulnerable. These events spread across the country, and throughout the 1970s and 1980s included vigils, speeches from survivors, and marches.
It wasn’t until 1993, though, that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed. This federal law provided legal protections and funding for survivors - including housing protection - for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Marches, observances, and other events related to preventing sexual violence began with a week-long awareness week in April of 2001. Since then, the goals of SAAM have expanded to include awareness and prevention events throughout the entire month of April.
CCA Victims Services Director Breanne Abbott, LCSW, noted that CCA will be holding its “Set the Lawn on Fire” initiative again this year. “The flames that we put out in the front yard of CCA… is a way for people to be part of raising awareness. They sponsor a flame for a nominal donation with someone in mind that’s been impacted [by sexual violence],” she explained. The idea to place flames in front of CCA’s building at 25 Jefferson St., Salamanca, came from a survivor of sexual violence that was assisted by CCA’s services. The survivor said that they survived because the fire within burned brighter than the fire around them, Abbott said. Donations will support costs that are not covered entirely by grant funding.
CCA is raising awareness for their services to assist victims of sexual violence that are available all year throughout the two counties they serve (Allegany and Cattaraugus), including the five college campuses located within:
24-hour victim services hotline manned by local staff: 1-888-945-3970
Domestic violence residential program, which provides emergency safe dwellings for domestic violence victims and their children
Domestic violence non-residential program, which provides victim support services including a 24-hour hotline, counseling, advocacy, court accompaniment, and counseling
Rape crisis program, which partners with medical providers, offers support groups for adults and children, provides advocacy, court accompaniment, prevention education, and a 24-hour hotline
Therapy services, including individual sessions by licensed professionals for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes
Information on additional services is available at www.ccaction.org/victim-services.
CCA is a certified rape crisis program with the NYS Department of Health, so all staff who respond to sexual assault calls have completed a 40-hour rape crisis counselor certification course. Additionally, CCA is dedicated to educating the community, including college campuses, about sexual assault, consent, and prevention.
Stay tuned for more news from CCA, which is planning a special Kentucky Derby-themed event this spring to raise funds and awareness for CCA’s sexual assault programs. “Donations to our program assist our survivors in many ways, from repairs to our shelter, to transportation costs, clothing, communication costs, community education events, and more,” Abbott explained. “This event is a way to support what we’re doing, have some fun, and raise money and awareness for a serious topic.”
To donate money for a flame in honor of a survivor, visit https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/FEMXLEAFBXHP8. CCA is also selling apparel to raise money for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies bearing the “Support Squad: Sexual Assault Awareness” logo are available in multiple colors and can be ordered online through Wednesday, April 8th at https://saam2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/.
Visit www.ccaction.org or call CCA’s main number at 716-945-1041 and email info@ccaction.org for more information about their services or events for SAAM.