Love shouldn’t hurt-ever

Keep the Conversation Going
by Teresia Smith

Every year as we close out Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I find myself wondering if we’ve succeeded in reaching more people and given them knowledge and information to make a difference. It is very important to know how to react when someone confides in you that they have been assaulted. And it is very important that you know your community resources so you can help them reach out. Beyond that, there is another thing that is very important — continue the conversation.

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Love shouldn’t hurt-ever

Sexual Assault is More Than Rape
by Teresia Smith

There’s often a misunderstanding that sexual assault is simply another way to describe rape or attempted rape. Sexual abuse is not limited to physical contact.

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Love shouldn’t hurt-ever

Building Connected Communities
by Teresia Smith

Our nation recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and communicate to members of the community what services are available to survivors. This year’s national theme is “Building Connected Communities”. The focus is to foster community awareness to promote safety, respect, and bystander intervention to help stop sexual violence before it happens. Our goal is to educate communities on how they can embrace their voices to show their support for survivors, as well as take a stand against victim blaming and hurtful misconceptions.

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Love shouldn’t hurt-ever

Reasons They Stay
by Teresia Smith

When a friend experiences intimate partner violence in a relationship, it can be very difficult for us to not try to intervene. Unfortunately, you can’t make the decision to leave that relationship for your friend. However, there are things you can do to support them so that when they are ready to leave, they know their options.

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Love shouldn’t hurt-ever

Need a U-turn?
by Teresia Smith

Have you ever been on a trip using GPS and you miss a turn? The GPS voice starts out warning you to make a U-turn so you can get on the right track, but if you keep going without a U-turn, soon it will find an alternate route. Has life ever made you feel like you missed a turn somewhere? Maybe the journey isn’t what you thought it’d be and you feel like you need an alternate route. When you find yourself involved in an unhealthy relationship, listening to your inner voice and taking a different route can possibly save your life.

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