April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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Woman in background, palm in foreground with teal ribbon.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). HFC is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our community.

Sexual assault or sexual violence happens in every community and affects people of all genders and ages. It is defined as any type of unwanted sexual contact. This includes words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent. A person may use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual assault. It or may or may not involve force.

While local awareness efforts and rallies began in the 1970s, the national movement to designate a specific month dedicated to sexual assault awareness was coordinated by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and state coalitions in the early 2000s. SAAM was first observed on a national level in 2001, adopting the teal ribbon as the symbol for awareness. This year marks its 25th anniversary. In 2009, President Barack Obama was the first president to officially declare April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

By the mid-2000s, SAAM incorporated prevention more heavily, focusing on areas such as communities, workplaces, and college campuses. These campaigns discussed ways that individuals and communities can stop sexual assault before it happens by changing behaviors and promoting respect.

These two goals of awareness and prevention carried over into the 2010s, laying the groundwork for the SAAM that we see today. While each campaign has a different theme, they all share same common goals: To raise visibility about sexual assault and share how it can be prevented, whether that’s through education about consent, healthy sexuality, or bystander intervention.

HFC resources to support our community

Nobody deserves to be sexually assaulted. Here are some resources at HFC to help you:

Campus Safety provides assistance, safety, and crime prevention services to the community. Call Campus Safety at 313-845-9630 from an outside phone or 9630 from a campus phone (if you call 9911 from a campus phone, the call will go directly to the Dearborn 911 Dispatch Center). Campus Safety can also be reached by email at campussafety@hfcc.edu.

Counseling Center: Counselors can help you improve your ability to make healthy decisions, provide an objective viewpoint for whatever you’re experiencing, and offer coping mechanisms. Contact Dr. Brenda Hildreth at 313-845-9611 or bjhildreth@hfcc.edu.

Employee Assistance Program is a free resource that supports the mental health of HFC employees. Here is a list of EAP services provided through Ulliance.

Student Conduct, Compliance, and Title IX: supports our community in creating and sustaining an environment free from all forms of sexual misconduct and discrimination. All members of the HFC community are responsible to understand and adhere to HFC’s standards of behavior. Contact:

External resources

NOTE: HFC provides links to external resources solely as an informational service to our community. We do not endorse or partner with these external organizations. We cannot provide referrals or any services related to these organizations. We encourage you to ask questions and make sure the support services are right for you.