April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and at the Coalition we’re recognizing both the impact of sexual violence in our communities and the work happening every day to support survivors and prevent abuse. This year we’re reflecting on the idea that prevention starts with community. Sexual violence is an issue that impacts all of us, but prevention starts with how we show up for each other, how we respond when someone is hurt, and whether people can trust that they will be believed and supported.
Across Washington, advocates are doing this work every day. They sit with survivors, answer crisis calls, help people find safety, and walk alongside people as they figure out what healing looks like for them. When survivors know they won’t be blamed or dismissed, it becomes easier to ask for help. When communities take violence seriously, it becomes harder for it to continue.
Right now, many of us are also watching painful conversations unfold in public about sexual abuse, accountability, and the ways people with power are protected. For survivors and advocates, these moments can be exhausting and discouraging. They remind us that while sexual violence is often highlighted in the headlines, it is not rare or distant; it exists in every community, including our own.
Prevention means being willing to hold that truth and do something about it. It can look like having real conversations about sex, consent, and relationships, believing a friend when they tell you something hard, speaking up when you hear victim-blaming, or making sure survivor advocacy programs stay strong so no one has to face violence alone.
Throughout April, the Coalition will be sharing resources, graphics, and tools that programs and community members can use to support survivors and strengthen prevention efforts across the state.
You can find this year’s SAAM materials, social media toolkit, and resources below.
Prevention starts with community, and everyone can play a role in building safer communities where healing is possible.