Why Sexual Assault Awareness Month Matters and Why Our Work Continues Every Day

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time to come together as a community to raise awareness, support survivors, and have conversations that too often go unspoken.

But for those of us doing this work every day, this month is not just about awareness—it’s about action.

The Reality Behind the Work

Sexual violence happens in every community, including ours. It impacts people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. And while the statistics are staggering, what matters most are the individuals behind those numbers, the survivors who walk through our doors, often on the hardest day of their lives.

At Branch House, we meet people in moments of crisis, fear, and uncertainty. Our role is simple, but powerful: to make sure they are not alone.

What We Want Our Community to Know

Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Support matters. And how we respond, as individuals and as a community, can make all the difference.

That’s why initiatives like Start by Believing are so important. When someone chooses to share their story, our first response should be to listen, believe, and support, not question or judge. That single moment can shape whether a survivor feels safe seeking help or stays silent.

What We’re Building at Branch House

Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to strengthen how our community responds to sexual assault. Through our Family Justice Center model, survivors can access multiple services in one safe, trauma-informed location, from advocacy and counseling connections to legal support and forensic exams.

We’ve also worked alongside incredible partners to expand access to care, including becoming one of the first community-based centers in the nation to provide coordinated, free emergency HIV prevention (nPEP) to survivors, even after hours. This is what it looks like when a community comes together to remove barriers and prioritize survivors.

Awareness Is Just the Beginning

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an opportunity, but it’s also a reminder. Awareness alone isn’t enough. It has to lead to compassion, to action, and to meaningful change.

You can be part of that change by:

• Believing and supporting survivors

• Learning about the resources available in our community

• Sharing accurate information and challenging harmful myths

• Supporting organizations like Branch House

  
  

Moving Forward Together

This work is not easy, but it is important. And it is possible because of a community that cares.

To every survivor reading this: we see you, we believe you, and we are here for you.

And to our community, thank you for standing with us, not just in April, but all year long.

Together, we are making a difference.