By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Corey Hensley, U.S. Naval Base Guam Public Affairs SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) and the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) teamed up in April to promote Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness.
NBG Commanding Officer Capt. Richard Wood, helped kick off the month by signing a proclamation, April 2, for child abuse prevention and for Sexual Assault Awareness month, April 9. The proclamation declared child abuse and neglect at NBG a community responsibility that depends on everyone's involvement.
"Throughout the year FFSC encourages individual and community organizations to take an active role in making Naval Base Guam a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for children and families," said Erlinda Montecalvo, FFSC Family Advocacy Educator. "Public awareness is important to helping prevent child abuse and neglect."
Montecalvo was at the Navy Exchange (NEX) main complex April 4, promoting child abuse prevention by handing out information and talking with parents interested in the subject. Montecalvo employed an offshoot of silent witness silhouettes. Using the color blue, which is the color of child abuse prevention, the silhouettes are people-shaped standees with stories of inspiration and survival posted on them.
Evangeline Cabacar, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) coordinator for FFSC was at the NEX April 6, to display the teal-colored silent witness silhouettes, bringing attention to the cause.
"Everyone who hears the message of sexual assault prevention and response will benefit," Cabacar said. "Sexual assault can occur without regard to gender or spousal relationship, or age of victim. We are all potential victims of sexual assault."
Cabacar encouraged people from the community to take advantage of programs that educate Sailors, families and friends on how to look out for one another and make a difference.
"Protect yourself and be safe when you go out," Cabacar said. "Let someone know where you are going and what time you will be home. Whenever you go out, refrain from taking rides from anyone you don't know, never go out alone, travel and socialize as a group and make a pact to stick together for the evening. Never accept a drink from anyone you do not know and completely trust, never share or exchange drinks and never leave your drink unattended."
During the month of April, FFSC will be hosting many events that will raise awareness and educate people on sexual assault awareness and child abuse prevention.
"If I can prevent child abuse, one child at a time, through education, assist parents to connect to essential services, offer appropriate encouragement to seek help early and provide resource materials to guide and support parents needs, then I have helped in some way to ensure the safety and well being of children," Montecalvo said.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response is an important element of the readiness area of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of the Navy is working to aggressively to prevent sexual assaults, to support sexual assault victims, and to hold offenders accountable.
Help raise awareness by joining the conversation on social media using #SAAM.
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