Sexual Assault Awareness Campaign

April is "sexual assault awareness month" news 10's hannah follman shares with us how one local community is stepping up to raise awareness and educate others.

//////// patrece - today i went to vincennes, indiana.

I learned how one local nonprofit organization is becoming part of a national campaign.

Hope's voice of knox and daviess county provides services for those who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

Recently the nonprofit joined a national campaign.

As a result..

Dozens of community members are getting involved.

"you have to have community help you have to have more than six or eight set of eyes on the city watching i want people in the community to understand why it's important.

The "start by believing campaign" is a national effort by "end violence against women international."

The goal is to help anoyone who has experienced sexual assault feel safe to share their stories.

"the most important part is just listening and being a community champion and having their voices be heard" dozens of community members including the mayor, local law enforcement, and healthcare workers joined together and signed the pledge the pledge states "when someone tells me they were raped or sexually assaulted, i start by believing" the main goal is to change how people respond to sexual assault.

"i want to be there for them and show them there is help and be believed" cathy bush, is an outreach coordinator at hopes voice in vincennes.

She says she is excited to see the community come together for this important topic.

"its really heartwarming to see the communtiy support and its really touching" coming up at six we will show you how you can get involved in the start by believing campaign.

Patrece --