Pee Dee Coalition targets child abuse, sexual assault
One month, two issues: Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault launches Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaigns in April to bring awareness to these issues, educate the community, and hopefully reduce these incidents from happening in the future.
Various events and activities are planned throughout the month that will focus public attention on traumatic experiences that are right in our midst.
Child Abuse Prevention Month: Theme: It IS Your Business. Some people seem to look away, as though it doesn’t exist or affect them. Some simply don’t want to get involved. Some might not realize that what they are seeing is actually child abuse.
Make it your business to recognize this problem and act. It is up to grown-ups to protect children and five children in the U.S. are affected by child abuse and neglect each day.
There were over 60,000 South Carolina child protective services intakes during 2020 through 2021. A report of child abuse is made in the U.S. every 10 seconds and could be considered a public health crisis. The pandemic made it worse.
Typically, child abuse can be in four common forms: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Child abuse and neglect is a serious public health problem and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have long-term impact on health and wellbeing.
“This issue includes all types of abuse and neglect against a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.” Children may also be abused by a stranger or someone they know in the community.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM): Theme: No Exceptions, No Excuses! No one has a right to assault someone sexually. No means no! And whether you are a woman or a man there is no justification for sexual misconduct towards you or from you. Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. One out of every 10 rape victims is a male. Ages 12 to 34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault.
According to South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA), “Sexual assault is any type of forced or coerced sexual contact or behavior that happens without consent. Sexual assault includes rape and attempted rape, child sexual abuse, groping, forced kissing and sexual harassment or threats.”
Sexual assault and child abuse are serious community problems – often hidden and Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month are a time for encouraging people to actively address these issues though our businesses, churches, community groups, families, and neighborhoods. Together we can reduce their occurrence.
Throughout April, Pee Dee Coalition and Durant Children’s Center will be hosting events and activities to increase awareness, reach out to victims, and demonstrate how the community can help and get involved. Nearly 50 are planned! See a list of activities in the eight Pee Dee counties that PDC serve (Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Marlboro, Williamsburg and Sumter (Durant Children’s Center only)) on Pee Dee Coalition’s website at www.peedeecoalition.org. Community members and businesses are encouraged to display pinwheels to show support for child abuse prevention or wear/display a teal ribbon to signify support of local efforts to end sexual assault.
Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault is a member of the United Way.