Wednesday, July 29, 2015 6th Judicial District Sexual Assault Protocol Training. 1 - 3 p.m. WNMU Light Hall, 1000 W. College Ave. Join us for an incredibly important training on the Sixth Judicial District's Sexual Assault Protocol - including Children's Physical Abuse and reporting. Includes a presentation from invested agencies on their role and a Question and Answer period. Please RSVP to Katherine Gauer via email (sassadvocacy@gmail.com<mailto:sassadvocacy@gmail.com>) with name, agency name, number attending, and phone number and email addresses for all those attending. Free. Light refreshments will be served.

Child abuse and neglect was rated as the third leading priority in "Community and Social Health for Children and Teens" by Grant County residents in 2012 Community Assessment, the most recent assessment conducted by Grant County Community Health Council. Interpersonal violence, which includes sexual assault and child abuse, is one of the four Health and Wellness Priorities set by the Health Council, which is the Health and Wellness Planning Authority of the Grant County Board of Commissioners.

Over 21 percent of Grant County residents reported experiencing sexual assault in their lifetimes, in the same assessment. This staggering number isn't a fluke, in New Mexico 1 in for women and 1 in 20 men are the victims completed or attempted rape in their lifetime, according to the 2014 Sex Crimes in New Mexico Fact Sheet.

In Grant County, 11 percent of female and 7 percent of male High School students reported being the victim of sexual dating violence on the 2013 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, which gauges the healthy, and not-so-healthy, behaviors of High School students across the nation.

These statistics are why having a unified protocol to deal with reported sexual assaults and child abuse is so important. The training is meant to better educate and inform the community of where to report crimes and get help and services for survivors, and of the process the local agencies follow for a unified response.

Please RSVP with Katherine at sassadvocacy@gmail.com, if you plan to attend.