Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault: we don’t like to talk about it and we most likely cringe when someone brings it up.  We need to start a conversation about it, though, because it affects more people than we think.  Sexual Assault is any sexual act committed against your will or without your consent.  Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault: it can happen to men and women of all ages and races. (http://www.dayoneny.org/dayone/get_informed/saam_2012/?gclid=CL38wvjK0K8CFS7DtgodWmlNdg)

A few ways to raise awareness about sexual assault:
 talk about it with your friends/peers
 contact local women/children shelters to ask if they have resources/info about sexual assault prevention
 ask local schools if they have programs/information for students regarding sexual assault prevention
 find different ways your community supports victims of sexual assault

Websites for more info and statistics:
http://www.sapr.mil/index.php/saam
http://www.dayoneny.org/dayone/get_informed/saam_2012/?gclid=CL38wvjK0K8CFS7DtgodWmlNdg
http://www.nsvrc.org/
http://www.malesurvivor.org/myths.html
http://www.stanford.edu/group/svab/myths.shtml

Going Green: Earth Day [April 22]

It’s time to break out your shovels, scatter some seeds and reap what you sew for this year’s Earth Day.  Many cities hold events on or around April 22 in honor of Mother Nature.  This is a great opportunity to teach youth in your community how to keep our planet green.  Hold a recycling challenge at your school.  Have people sign a pledge to reduce their use of electricity for at least an hour a day.  Plant a tree with your friends or find an event close to you to volunteer for. 

We made it easy for you!

[Events by city]

http://www.earthday.org/fayetteville

http://hotspringsgreen.org/eday.html

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events/great-american-cleanup-75706/

http://www.pinebluffcvb.org/calendar/detail.aspx?id=824

https://www.facebook.com/pages/UCA-Green-Week/113122772033241

[Other events]

http://www.arkansasearthday.org/

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/apr/20/earth-day-events-around-arkansas/

Can’t find your town?  Do a little digging and ask others what they plan to do on Earth Day.  You can plan your own celebration!

April Awareness: Child Abuse Prevention

This week's awareness spotlight is Child Abuse Prevention.  


Unfortunately, child abuse is not an uncommon problem and abuse manifests itself in many different forms.  Abandonment, neglect, physical, emotional, sexual and psychological are the most common forms of child abuse.  If a child is abused in any way, he or she can grow up to experience many of the following problems: (emotional) depression, anxiety, low-self esteem; (physical) various non-accidental physical ailments (bruises, broken bones, wounds, etc); (neglect) lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and medical attention.  


Many cities and towns have programs that help raise awareness of and prevent child abuse and neglect, support healthy childhood development and strengthen families.  These programs are usually held by women's shelters, churches and schools.  YACs can consider funding these programs around or near their area.  


To learn more visit these websites: 
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.shtml
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/whatiscan.pdf
http://www.childabuseprevention.org/content/programs-and-services

April Awareness: Autism

Throughout the month of April, we will post about different awareness groups in order to give your YAC ideas regarding what/who to fund during your grant cycle!


April 2nd (this past Monday) was Autism Awareness Day and many people came together to support fundraising and awareness-raising events for Autism.  Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others, along with other developmental issues.  There are varying degrees of autism and each case is unique, therefore treatment is different for anyone with the disorder.  Many autism advocate agencies help families with information about the disorder, including: funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and providing valuable information to families and individuals affected by autism disorders.  (sources: autismspeaks.org and autism-society.org).  


Quick facts:
Autism affects 1 in 88 children
Autism affects 1 out of 54 boys and 1 out of 252 girls
There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.


There are probably more children in your area who are affected by autism than you think.  Find out how to help them!


Here a few websites if you want to know more:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/
http://www.autism-society.org