Family Crisis Intervention Center raising awareness of sexual assault
Ribbons with contact information for the Family Crisis Intervention Center were placed in downtown Parkersburg on Monday morning. Ciara Jacobs with the center helped to prepare the ribbons for hanging. (Photo by Candice Black)
From left, Kaiaa Edwards, Chelsie Fast and Melissa Wise with the Family Crisis Intervention Center prepared to hang teal ribbons around downtown Parkersburg to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness month. (Photo by Candice Black)
From left, Chelsie Fast, Melissa Wise, Ciara Jacobs, Sarah Beth Shingler and Teresa Smith with the Family Crisis Intervention Center hung ribbons around downtown Parkersburg Monday morning to raise awareness for sexual assault. (Photo by Candice Black)
Ribbons with contact information for the Family Crisis Intervention Center were placed in downtown Parkersburg on Monday morning. Ciara Jacobs with the center helped to prepare the ribbons for hanging. (Photo by Candice Black)
From left, Kaiaa Edwards, Chelsie Fast and Melissa Wise with the Family Crisis Intervention Center prepared to hang teal ribbons around downtown Parkersburg to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness month. (Photo by Candice Black)
From left, Chelsie Fast, Melissa Wise, Ciara Jacobs, Sarah Beth Shingler and Teresa Smith with the Family Crisis Intervention Center hung ribbons around downtown Parkersburg Monday morning to raise awareness for sexual assault. (Photo by Candice Black)
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PARKERSBURG -- Employees and volunteers of the Family Crisis Intervention Center hope to raise awareness for sexual assault this month through events, online outreach and ribbon displays.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Teresa Smith, sexual assault response advocate with the FCIC, said the idea is to let the community know about the resources, organizations and support available to them.
"There are resources they can reach out to so they don't feel alone. People need to start talking about it and start talking about prevention," Smith said. "I'm really passionate about getting the awareness out there. A lot of people in the community don't know there is a domestic violence and rape care center here in Parkersburg."
People with the FCIC will use social media to reach out with a few campaigns which encourage people to talk about their experiences and speak up if they see something dangerous happening.
"We are having a campaign called 'I Don't Owe You.' We're going to have people take their picture with a sign and they can fill in their experience of how they feel. It's actually a campaign that came out of Canada," Smith said.
With that campaign, Smith said people are making the statement that people don't owe anybody anything. She used the example of "I don't owe you because you bought me dinner."
The other campaign is centered around a "bystander." Smith said there are two types of bystanders: One who stands by and allows something to happen and someone who intervenes. She also said understanding consent is a big aspect of sexual assault prevention.
"A lot of things get misconstrued. A lot of people (consent happens) if they go on a date or if they said 'yes' yesterday," Smith.
Monday morning, community members involved with the FCIC placed teal ribbons around downtown Parkersburg which represent sexual assault awareness. Each ribbon has a tag with information about how people can receive help.
Later this month, the Hope Help Heal event will be held at City Park to bring community members together with nonprofit groups, law enforcement and first responders with the intent of handing out informative materials about the local services offered. It will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 30.
Smith said several options are available or anyone who wants to become involved with the FCIC. She said volunteers are always needed and she encourages people to share resources and information on social media.
For more information about the FCIC and its services, visit fcichaven.org or call (304) 428-2333.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.