April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and this year 2026, we recognize a powerful milestone: 25 years of raising awareness, supporting survivors, and working toward prevention.
For a quarter century, SAAM has served as both a call to action and a space for reflection. It reminds us that sexual violence is not just an individual issue, but it is a community issue that requires collective responsibility, compassion, and sustained commitment.
Twenty-five years ago, conversations about sexual violence were far more limited, and survivors often faced silence, stigma, and disbelief. While progress has been made through stronger advocacy, increased visibility, and survivor-led movements, there is still much work to do. Sexual violence continues to impact individuals across all communities, and many survivors still encounter barriers to safety, healing, and justice.
This anniversary is not just about looking back but it is about recommitting to the future. At heart of SAAM is a simple but powerful truth: survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported. Healing is not linear, and each survivor’s journey is unique as the services that The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE tailors to meet individual needs. As a community, we must continue to create spaces that are consent based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and rooted in dignity and respect. Ending sexual violence requires more than awareness but it also requires action. We do this work at the CARE Center through prevention education work.
Prevention means:
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Challenging harmful norms and behaviors
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Teaching and modeling consent and respect
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Building communities where accountability is the standard
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Investing in education, outreach, and early intervention
Each of us has a role to play in creating safer environments in our workplaces, schools, and communities.
As we honor 25 years of SAAM, the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center has been:
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Supporting survivors with compassion and care
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Expanding access to services and resources
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Educating our community to prevent violence before it happens
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Advocating for systemic change
You can join us this April and we invite you to stand with survivors and be part of the movement by:
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Wearing teal to show your support
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Sharing resources and information
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Attending community events and training
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Speaking up when you see harm or injustice
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Volunteering your time
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Donating to the CARE Center to support survivor centered work.
25 years is a milestone, but our work is far from over, together, we can move beyond awareness toward lasting change and a safer society.