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County’s Victim Services to Host a Free Workshop
Open to the Public - “Preventing Sexual Violence in our Community”

For release on: April 3, 2007
Contact: Sandy Reynolds, 561-355-2418

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and April 5 is National Sexual Assault Awareness Day.  Palm Beach County Victim Services will join 25 Florida communities in honoring sexual assault survivors and their loved ones in our community.

Victim Services, a Division in the Department of Public Safety, is hosting a training workshop, “MORE THAN WORDS: PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY,” on April 5 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the American Cancer Society, 621 Clearwater Park Road, West Palm Beach, FL.  Guest trainer is Assistant Director Sharon D’Eusanio of the Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs, Office of the Florida Attorney General.  Ms. D’Eusanio is a survivor of violent crime which nearly took her life and left her blind. She will focus on prevention and awareness with emphasis on assisting persons with disabilities.  Additional topics include services available to victims of crime and human trafficking.

The April 2007 theme, “More Than Words” conveys the message that words are not enough to express the pain of sexual violence.  Palm Beach County Director of Victim Services Nancy Dixon states, “Sexual violence affects every member of this community, and it will take the community working together to end sexual violence. Rape not only affects victims, but their brothers and sisters, parents, classmates, significant others, friends — everyone they know.”

The Victims Rights Coalition of Palm Beach County agrees that April is an opportunity to publicly support rape victims and their families and take a look at the toll sexual violence takes on our community. For more information on Sexual Assault Awareness Month events or for information on rape services, contact Victim Services at 561-355-2418.

State-wide sponsors for these yearly activities include the Florida Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program and the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV).