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Mental Health Resources

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2023

Venita, Ashley, and Lisa, DAASV Team

April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and in 2023, this marks the 22nd anniversary of SAAM!  During April, SAAM focuses on raising awareness of the impact of sexual violence, providing education and promoting available resources, and uplifting survivors' voices.

Each year, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) centers a theme around SAAM.  This year is: “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” Intervention - such as the availability of trauma-informed, culturally competent services - and prevention - which can look like trainings or implementation of policies to protect survivors -  are both necessary when addressing sexual violence.  How can we expect the reduction of sexual violence without focusing on the root causes of why this violence continues?  The short answer?  We can’t.  

“Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity” calls on individuals, advocates, and organizations - to build equitable services that reach all community members.  Sexual violence can and does affect anyone, yet some populations experience higher rates of violence and are also negatively impacted by intersectional systems of oppression.  These systems, which include but are not limited to racism, sexism, ageism, and transphobia, only exacerbate the rates of abuse.  So, to fully address the prevention of sexual violence means also addressing these intersectional systems of oppression.     

This year, the Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence (DAASV) is hosting events throughout Delaware.

The Clothesline Project is one such event.  The Clothesline Project is a visual display of t-shirts - designed by survivors, friends, family, or even community members - that raises awareness of the vast impact of sexual violence.   

You can find the Clothesline Project at:

clothesline project

DAASV was formally recognized as Delaware’s designated sexual assault coalition, effective September 1, 2020.  Our mission is to address sexual violence in Delaware by creating an inclusive community that supports survivors through advocacy, intervention, and awareness.  www.delawarealliance.org   

Our Member Organizations

  • Alert! Computer use can be monitored.

    Computer Safety

    WARNING!

    If you are being stalked or abused, take steps to keep your abuser from knowing you are looking for help. Please use a safer computer, or call 911, one of Delaware's local hotlines at 302-762-6110 for New Castle County or 302-422-8058 for Kent & Sussex Counties , or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.

    EMERGENCY "QUICK ESCAPE" BUTTON

    There is a red Quick Escape button in the lower right-hand corner of every page on this website.
    Click this button if your abuser enters the room while you are viewing this website. It will close this website and redirect your browser to a neutral page.

    Clean up Your Online Path

    Internet Safety

    Everything you do online is recorded. It is IMPOSSIBLE to clear your tracks completely. Your computer stores hundreds of bits of information about everything you do with your computer, including information about which websites you've visited, your passwords, and what your emails say. An abuser can easily track the websites you visit or read your email messages.

    If you suspect your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusers are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don’t need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s computer activities – anyone can do it and there are many ways to monitor your activities - even without having direct access to your computer. Using a separate computer is best, but you can protect yourself at home by familiarizing yourself with processes like private browsing, deleting your browser history, clearing your cache and deleting cookies.

    You can be tracked

    Your abuser can track your online actions – there is nothing you can do to remove your tracks completely. If you try to erase your tracks, your abuser might become suspicious.
    If you think you might be in danger, use a computer at a public library, internet cafe or a trusted friend’s house. If your abuser sends you email, do not open it on those computers.

    If you need help now, call 911 or the
    New Castle County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-762-6110
    Kent & Sussex County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-422-8058
    Kent & Sussex County Bi-lingual Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-745-9874
    US National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
    US National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
    US National Teen Dating Violence Helpline 1-866-331-9474

    Email Safety

    Email is not a safe or confidential way to communicate.

    Sending email is like sending a postcard through the mail. Anyone along the path can read what it says. If you need to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life, if possible, please call a hotline instead.

    If you must use email to discuss your situation we suggest you use an account that your abuser doesn't know about. Set up a new account with a free email service like hotmail, yahoo, or gmail.

    Password Safety

    Be smart about passwords to keep your abuser out of your accounts.

    DO NOT use a name or password that contains any identifying information (no names, nicknames, initials, birthdates, zipcodes, etc.) Instead use a name and password that contains a random mix of letters, CAPITAL letters and numbers (for example, HJ3v67Tn) -

    Make sure you can remember the user name and password. If you must write it down somewhere, put it in a place your abuser is unlikely to find it.

    If the computer asks if you would like it to save your password or login information tell it NO.

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