Serving Cumberland and Adams Counties
Cumberland County Hotline: 1.888.727.2877.
Adams County Hotline: 1.888.727.2877.
Support Survivors this April
Donate for SAAMApril marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence, supporting survivors, and strengthening prevention efforts across our community. Sexual violence impacts people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities, and its effects ripple far beyond the individual. This month is an opportunity to come together, listen, learn, and take meaningful action.
At YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County, we see every day how critical it is to ensure survivors have access to compassionate, confidential support. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration with partners across the region, we are working toward a future where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard.
Sexual violence prevention is a shared responsibility. It requires ongoing education about consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention, as well as a commitment to believing and supporting survivors. Just as importantly, it requires strong partnerships across systems, law enforcement, healthcare, legal services, schools, and community organizations, all working together to provide a coordinated and effective response.
Throughout April, there are several opportunities to visibly show your support and help spark important conversations:
- SAAM Day of Action (Teal Day) – Wear teal to show solidarity with survivors and to promote awareness of sexual violence prevention. Teal is the nationally recognized color of sexual assault awareness.
- Denim Day – Wear denim to take a stand against victim-blaming and harmful myths surrounding sexual violence. This international campaign began as a protest against a court ruling that perpetuated dangerous misconceptions about consent.
- Wear Blue Day for Child Abuse Awareness Month – April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month. Wearing blue helps bring attention to the importance of protecting children and supporting families to prevent abuse before it occurs.
- Attend a Victims’ Rights Rally during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – The Crime Victims’ Alliance of Pennsylvania will host their 2026 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Rally at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on April 20th. Cumberland County’s Victims’ Rights Rally will take place on April 22nd.
These small, visible actions help normalize conversations that are too often avoided. They signal to survivors that they are not alone and that our community is committed to change.
Awareness is only the first step. Real impact comes from what we do next: educating ourselves, supporting local services, advocating for policies that protect survivors, and fostering a culture where respect and accountability are the standard.
Together, we can build a community where prevention is possible, survivors are supported, and violence has no place.
SAAM and Child Abuse Awareness Month 2026 Ways to get Involved & Activities
Ribbons Downtown Carlisle – Mid Penn Bank helped us create ribbons to hang in downtown Carlisle! These beautiful arrangements list information and services we provide. Members 1st worked diligently to tie them around the lamp poles in Carlisle.
April 1 – SAAM Proclamation at Carlisle Borough Meeting at Borough Hall.
Mayor Shultz to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
April 4th-May 6th – Until Justice Just Is
Democracy in Progress: Voting Rights at 250.
This year, we will focus exclusively on voting rights—honoring 250 years of the American democratic experiment while exposing inequities, uplifting the struggle for access to the ballot, and advocating for a future where every American’s vote is protected, valued, and accessible.
From April 6 – May 4, the 2026 UJJI Challenge will offer a streamlined experience: one carefully curated piece of content each day—an article, video, podcast, or action step—designed to deepen participants’ understanding of voting rights and inspire meaningful engagement. This approach allows us to dive deeply into one of the most urgent issues of our time.
Register HereApril 7th – SAAM Day of Action (Wear Teal Day)
Wear Teal on April 7th to show your support for survivors. Tag us on your #SAAMDayofAction Social Media Post! @YWCACarlisleCumberlandCountry
April 8th – Take Back the Night at Dickinson College
Learn MoreApril 9th – Take Back the Night at Gettysburg College
Learn More
April 10th – Wear Blue Day for Child Abuse Awareness Month
Wear Blue on April 10th to show your support for survivors. Tag us on your #WearBlueDay Social Media Post! @YWCACarlisleCumberlandCountry
April 11th – 2nd Annual SAPR 5K Rise to Run
The 5K Run, 1 Mile Walk is open to All Service Members, Families, Friends and the general public – children and dogs (well behaved on a leash) are welcome to register / participate!
Sat 11 April 2025, registration starting at 0830, race beginning promptly at 1000 (RUN) and 1015 (WALK). The race will begin at Carlisle Army Heritage Education Center (AHEC). The course will be around AHEC and the Golf Course, finishing at AHEC. The cost of the race is $30. All proceeds will be donated to our local community to help support sexual assault survivors within our community.
Register Here
April 18th – DVS Healing Through Art
Join us for a free celebration of the peace, hope, and healing that art can bring us! Over 20 free crafts and projects will be available for families in the community along with a variety of fun and engaging programs & Performances.
12:00 – 4:00 PM at Memorial Park, Carlisle PA 17013.
April 20th – Crime Victim Rights Rally at the Capitol Rotunda
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Main Rotunda, Pennsylvania State Capitol Building
Theme: Everyone Knows Someone
April 22nd – Cumberland County Crime Victims’ Rights Rally
Join us at the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Rally in Cumberland County. The rally will take place at the Carlisle Historic Courthouse on April 22nd at 6 PM.
April 23rd – Take Back the Night at Shippensburg University
6:00 – 8:00 pm CUB 119
A speak-out and rally for community to gather with and hear survivors name their experiences of sexual violence, to empower and be empowered, and to interrupt cycles of shame and blame. Everyone is invited to participate and create a better-informed and more-engaged community of care and prevention.
April 23rd – Sexual Assault Prevention Month Event Hosted by PA National Guard and the US Army War College
8:00-3:30 PM
US Army Heritage & Education Center
First Session: SAVE
Safety, Assertiveness, Violence Prevention, Empowerment (S.A.V.E.) is an interactive, all-around empowerment-focused self-defense training program designed to educate military advocates and communities with evidence-based personal safety skills. Nicole Snell, international trainer and subject matter expert, will address essential safety and prevention strategies from a trauma informed lens including intuition, situational awareness, recognizing manipulation, verbal de-escalation strategies for conflict management/avoidance, boundary setting, and simple physical self-defense techniques. The audience will be invited to practice the skills live (no-contact). The goal of SAVE is to enhance morale, resilience, mission readiness and communication while teaching practical life skills for responding to unwanted social or professional interactions. SAVE helps participants build confidence to use their voice, reduce anxiety through skill building, and develop proactive verbal, mental and physical strategies to address everyday interpersonal relationships and problematic encounters without restricting their lives.
Second Session: Bystander Intervention for Empowerment & Prevention
This engaging and evidence-based program is designed to empower advocates and military communities with actionable and forward-thinking options for bystander intervention. Led by international trainer and violence prevention educator, Nicole Snell, this session will build on the skills learned in SAVE to create a multi layered and comprehensive approach to help prevent and respond to negative behaviors or uncomfortable/threatening interactions. We will discuss strategies for addressing situations such as harassment, bullying, inappropriate jokes, and ostracism while having meaningful conversations about the barriers to intervention. Learning a range of intervention and de-escalation strategies while redefining what it means to be an “active bystander” will help the audience integrate these skills smoothly into their daily life. The goal of the session is to offer participants real world tools that can increase their comfort in speaking up for others and responding confidently to scenarios they may encounter.
April 28th – Human Trafficking Simulation
Join us for an interactive and eye-opening learning experience.
12:00 – 1:30 PM
YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County
301 G Street, Carlisle, PA
Presented by the Cumberland County Human Trafficking Coalition in partnership with YWCA Carlisle & Cumberland County, this event is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This is not a typical training. Through guided, real-world scenarios, participants will engage in an interactive simulation that highlights how human trafficking occurs, the barriers survivors face, and how individuals and communities can respond more effectively.
What You’ll Gain:
- A deeper understanding of how trafficking happens in everyday settings
- Tools to recognize warning signs and risk factors
- Insight into survivor experiences
- Practical knowledge you can apply in your role or community
Who Should Attend:
Community members, educators, service providers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in strengthening awareness and prevention efforts.
Registration Details:
Tickets are $30 per person
Lunch is included
Learn More
April 29th – Denim Day
Wear Denim on April 29th to show your support for survivors and help fight victim-blaming. Tag us on your #DenimDay Social Media Post! @YWCACarlisleCumberlandCountry
Learn More about Denim DayThe History of SAAM
First observed nationally in 2001, SAAM traces its roots back to the 1970s, when activists and survivors began organizing Take Back the Night marches to protest sexual violence and demand change. Over the years, these grassroots efforts evolved into a national movement, with April designated as a month dedicated to raising awareness, fostering prevention, and advocating for survivors. SAAM provides an opportunity to engage in critical conversations about consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention while working toward a culture where sexual violence is not tolerated. By uniting as a community, we can empower survivors, challenge harmful societal norms, and strive for a future where everyone feels safe and respected.
Why SAAM Matters
Sexual violence is a pervasive issue affecting people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. It impacts individuals, families, and communities, making prevention and support efforts crucial. SAAM is about starting conversations, providing education, and taking action to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors.
How You Can Make a Difference
There are many ways to participate in SAAM and contribute to a culture of prevention and healing. Here’s how you can get involved:
🔹 Educate Yourself and Others – Learn about consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention. Share resources and encourage discussions in your community.
🔹 Attend Events – Join us for panel discussions, educational workshops, and community gatherings focused on awareness and prevention.
🔹 Wear Teal – Show your support by wearing teal, the official color of sexual violence prevention, and use it as a conversation starter.
🔹 Engage on Social Media – Share SAAM-related content, use hashtags, and spread awareness to amplify survivor voices and prevention efforts.
#SAAM2025
#UnitedWeChange
#TogetherWeAct
#PreventionIsPossible
#30DaysofSAAM
🔹 Support Survivors – Listen, believe, and provide resources to those who may need help. Consider volunteering or donating to organizations that support survivors.
Join the Movement
Ending sexual violence requires collective action. By participating in SAAM, you contribute to a future where respect, consent, and safety are the norm. Check out our upcoming events and find ways to get involved this April and beyond.