By Laura Nelson

This month we are recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, two tough topics that affect us daily.  In our country, a sexual assault occurs every 92 seconds and in our state there are over 100,000 investigated cases of child abuse yearly.  Whether you’re aware of it or not, someone you know has experienced abuse, or perhaps you are a survivor yourself.  Read on to find resources on preventing abuse, supporting survivors, and celebrating healthy community.

Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina is offering several trainings this month to teach North Carolinians how to recognize child maltreatment, build their prevention toolkit, and strengthen families to ensure all children thrive.  Their Providing Hope series is designed specifically for congregations seeking to connect with and provide support to families in our community.
On April 5 and 6, the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCCASA) is offering SA 101: Building Awareness of Sexual Violence & An Introduction to Victim Advocacy online.  For friends and family of survivors of sexual assault, NCCASA has many resources available to help you support your loved one that can be found here.  For survivors, you are not alone and there are many resources available to help and support you.

No one deserves to be abused.  As people of faith, we know that God’s heart is for healthy relationships and healing communities.  If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse of any kind, know that you are not alone and help and support are always available.  InterAct, Wake County’s domestic and sexual violence services agency, has a 24/7 crisis line available to anyone that can be reached at 919-828-7740.  Nationally, RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) has a 24/7 crisis line that can be reached at 800-656-4673.