The month of April is full of restoration. Trees and flowers bloom after the cold winter frost, and birds migrate home. April is also when Sexual Assault Awareness Month takes place. The goal of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to comfort the small voices in hopes of healing the victims of these vicious acts.

The Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program was established in 2006 by Dr. Edwards. This program focuses on the “3 D’s,” which you can see in the picture on the bottom left. Education plays a major role in Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sabrina Gibson, a social worker at Grayslake Central High School, said it’s important to “understand the signs and symptoms of somebody who might be experiencing or have experienced sexual assault, and being able to identify if our friends are withdrawing from us or if they are showing [signs of] unhealthy coping strategies.” Ms. Gibson said that some misconceptions of Sexual Assault are that “people assume that it would never happen to them, but sexual assault knows no boundaries, so it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is or what your gender identity is, it’s one of those things where really anybody can suffer at the hands of sexual assault.” Because of this, getting exposure to real-life scenarios and knowing your resources can be helpful.

All victims need to know that they are not alone and that there are resources available, ready to help them. Grayslake Central High School is one such resource. The Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center’s goal is to amplify the voices of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Grayslake Central is in partnership with the Zacharias Center, so any student who has been sexually assaulted receives free counseling from the center. To reach the Zacarias Center and schedule an appointment, call (847) 872-7799. 

National Sexual Assault Hotline : (800) 656-4673