Commissioners, Alternatives to Violence Center recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month during their Wednesday, April 10 meeting, with the commission president Daniels donning a pair of red high heels to read the proclamation.      

The proclamation was accepted by Alternatives to Violence Center director Dara Gullette; staff members Teri Cragwall, Lynn Knisley and Jeanine Mullenix; and board president Pamela Limes.  

As Roades was asked to wear the heels last April, the commission and AVC staff pleaded with Daniels to wear them this year, as part of the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” campaign. 

“The point of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is you do feel embarrassed, you do feel, you know, kind of awkward,” Gullette said. “You feel like it's difficult. These are the types of things that victims go through when they go through a rape situation.”

According to walkamileinhershoes.org, “Since 2001, men, women and their families around the world have joined award-winning Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. It is a dramatic opportunity to raise awareness in your community about the serious causes, effects and remediations to men's sexualized violence.
 
“There is an old saying: ‘You can't understand another person's experience until you've walked a mile in their shoes.’ To get people listening, learning and talking, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® education events organize around men literally walking one mile in women's high-heeled shoes. It's not easy walking in these shoes, but it's an experience around which a lot of education, self-reflection and change happens. It's impressive to see such a visually stunning public statement of listening, learning, allyship, and commitment. It's an engaging event that gets the community talking about sex and gender biases, gender identity, gender relations and men's sexualized violence.”

You can learn more about the campaign at https://www.walkamileinhershoes.org.

Although Daniels was not required to actually walk a mile, he did squeeze into the heels, amid lots of giggles from the crowd attending the meeting. Actually, he opted to sit on the desk with his feet dangling rather than attempt to balance in the shoes as he read the proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Highland County.

“We certainly understand the message that you're trying to convey, and we appreciate you coming in today,” Daniels told the group. “We appreciate all the work that you do out in the community each and every day.”

In other updates, Gullette announced an upcoming training and mock trial event for law enforcement and forensic nurses, hosted by the AVC and the Forensic Nursing Network, Inc. The training is free and will be held May 10 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Hillsboro Municipal Court. 

According to a handout from Gullette, “Attendees will acquire education on sexual assault, the updated sexual assault protocol, the new strangulation law in Ohio and the precise collection of evidence in sexual assault cases. Forensic Nursing Network will also provide a mock trial experience, offering law enforcement and forensic nurses the invaluable opportunity to practice their testimony within a controlled and supportive learning environment.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., and CPTs, CLEs, advocacy certificate of attendance and nursing contact hours will be provided. Several prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office — Kara Keating, Erik Spitzer and William R. Walton — will conduct the training.

“This is designed for advocates, law enforcement and nurses to come and do this training to get updated on sexual assault protocols, collection and strangulation,” Gullette said. “At the end of the day, there's going to be a mock trial, so both new law enforcement and nurses can kind of see what it would look like if they had to testify during a rape case. 

“I’ve been to their trainings before, and they're really impressive.”

The Alternatives to Violence Center is a domestic violence, rape crisis and child advocacy center providing 24-hour crisis intervention, education and community awareness. Agency advocates, therapists, nurses and lawyers are specifically trained to provide immediate services utilizing trauma-informed care.

If you are in need of help, the AVC has locations in both Highland and Clinton counties. The Highland County office is located at 135 North High Street, suite 1, Hillsboro, and can be reached at (937) 393-8118. To reach the 24-hour crisis line, call (888) 816-1146. Services include an emergency shelter; personal, medical and legal advocacy; parenting support; support groups; therapy; safety planning; forensic programs; emergency legal advocacy; housing and relocation; information, education and referrals; the Community Advocacy Project; the Real Life Heroes program; and transportation and cell phones.

For more information on the Alternatives to Violence Center, including how to support their mission, go to: https://www.avconline.info or follow updates at https://www.facebook.com/AVC1981.

For more from Wednesday's meeting, see the stories at: 

https://highlandcountypress.com/news/commissioners-updated-ongoing-area…

and

https://highlandcountypress.com/news/sscc-president-provides-update-com….

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