I would like to highlight the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. https://www.rainn.org. They created the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) and are in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault providers across the United States.

Why do we CARE about Sexual Assault Awareness?

Sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. The effects of sexual assault include psychological, emotional, and physical on the survivor. Meanwhile, only 5 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. One of the missions of RAINN is bring preparators to justice.

• Women and girls are especially at risk for sexual-violence (1 out of 6 women have been victims of attempted or completed rape).
• Most victims of sexual assault are under the age of 30, especially female college students ages 18-24. Male college students and transgender students are also at higher risk

Please reach out if you need support. Help is available. You are not alone.

RAINN’s National Resources Include the Following:

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Online Chatline: hotline.rainn.org/online
Spanish Online Chat: https://hotline.rainn.org/es?_ga=2.228798172.1363016492.1619442795-2046525267.1619442795
National Helpline for Male Survivors: https://1in6.org/helpline/
National Street Harassment Hotline: Online Chat https://hotline.rainn.org/ssh-en Telephone hotline: 855.897.5910
DoD Safe Helpline: a service for members of the U.S. Military and their families
Online chat: https://safehelpline.org/ Telephone hotline: 877.995.5247

Local Sexual Violence & BIPOC Advocacy Resources

Rape Help MN
Connect to local advocacy services based on your address, including local shelter options. http://rapehelpmn.org/
https://dayoneservices.org/shelters-support/

Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
https://www.mncasa.org/

The Trans Lifeline for trans individuals 1-877-565-8860
https://translifeline.org/

Voice of East African Women
East African Women and Muslim Immigrants
https://veaw.org/

StrongHearts
Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
https://strongheartshelpline.org/

Minneapolis American Indian Center
Indigenous and Native Women
http://www.maicnet.org/project/icwa/

Casa De Esperanza
Latinas and the Latin Community
24-hr bilingual domestic violence helpline: 651.772.1611
https://casadeesperanza.org/

Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC