April supported as Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The “What Were You Wearing” display at OneEighty in Millersburg features similar clothing worn by victims of sexual assault. The 11 outfit display was created to debunk the myth that what a victim was wearing is a driving cause of the action of the individual instigating the sexual abuse.
When it comes to staggering numbers, those connected with sexual assault in the United States are among the most staggering.
According to recent details, one American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, and every nine minutes that victim is a child, with more than 53% of women and 29% of men reporting experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime.
As a way of raising the voice of support for sexual assault victims, the Holmes County commissioners spoke with a trio of advocates in their recent weekly meeting.
On Monday, April 7, the Holmes County commissioners officially honored a very important moment when they passed a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
In attendance at the meeting were a trio of women from OneEighty, including Tina Zickefoose, advocate for Holmes County, as well as Stacy Rheam, shelter manager, and Kate Abruzzino, advocate manager, both from Wayne County.
Rheam said they work with both domestic violence and sexual assault victims at the shelter. She added that OneEighty has a program in connection with Wooster Community Hospital that sees the organization send volunteers to meet with victims of sexual assault as support.
Abruzzino noted that the theme this year is “Voices of Change,” stating it resonates within those connected with the organization.
“Many of our staff and volunteers have been victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, and they are now helping others to move forward from that,” Abruzzino said.
She went on to talk about how most victims of sexual assault know the person perpetrating the crime, whether it is a family member, friend, ex-partner or current partner.
She said the most important step in starting the recovery process is believing the victim, and then helping them connect with individuals and organizations that can help provide them with options.
There are special exams that take place for victims of sexual assault, and when a victim comes to either of the hospitals in Wooster or Orrville, OneEighty’s volunteers will be by their side to help comfort them and get them through the exam.
“They are the only ones there not wanting anything from the victim,” Zickefoose said. “They just go and sit with them and be with them in any way they can. I’m very proud of those volunteers.”
Zickefoose said she currently has a display set up in the Holmes County office called “What Were You Wearing.”
The display features clothing that was being worn by victims of sexual assault and was created to debunk the myth that what a victim was wearing is a driving cause of the action of the individual instigating the sexual abuse.
“Years ago, I had 11 sexual assault victims tell me their stories, so if you come into the office, I have seven of (the outfits) hanging up,” Zickefoose said.
Each outfit includes several paragraphs about what took place during the assault, and she said the display includes assault victims from a 7-year-old girl to college-age women.
Holmes County judge and former prosecutor Sean Warner was in attendance at the meeting and said that more than half of the trial cases that come through his courtroom are connected with sexual assault.
“I appreciate all of your advocacy and bringing this issue to light,” Warner said to the three OneEighty advocates.
Zickefoose said that sexual abuse awareness is gaining ground as people recognize the cost and understand that it simply can’t be swept under the rug, while Abruzzino added that thankfully there are many more avenues to explore today than there were prior when it comes to helping victims of sexual assault find a road to recovery.
OneEighty is continually seeking volunteers. Anyone wishing to do so can stop in at the offices, the Wooster office located at 104 Spink St., the Millersburg office located at 34C S. Clay St.