April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and this week (April 7-13) is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The theme this year is “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future.”
South Dakota state Victims’ Services program director Stephanie Pierson says the theme celebrates the progress already made in helping victims of crime while also looking at the future, where crime victim services will be even more inclusive, accessible and trauma-informed.
As part of the week, tomorrow (Tues. April 9) is “South Dakota Wear Blue Day.” Citizens are urged to wear blue to demonstrate a visible commitment to preventing child abuse and supporting strong families and healthy children.
Pierson says no matter who you are, everybody has a right to be protected and safe. She says there are services and resources available throughout South Dakota.
In federal fiscal year 2018, Victims’ Services funded programs that provided services to more than 46,000 victims. Those programs offer assistance such as shelter, advocacy, crisis counseling and other victims’ services to sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and other violent crime victims.
For more information about Victims’ Services, visit its website at https://dps.sd.gov/victims-services.
Victims’ Services is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
