Photo By Chief Petty Officer Stephane Belcher | 170406-N-PG340-057 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (April 6, 2017) Capt. Cynthia Gantt (center), chief...... read more read more
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and this year’s theme is Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission: The Difference Starts with You. Step Up and Step In to Stop Sexual Assault.
“Sexual assault is an issue that everyone hopes they won’t have to face, but it can happen to anyone,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kennedy, sexual assault prevention and response officer and sexual assault medical program manager, Navy Medicine East. “We must work together to educate our communities about what they can do to prevent sexual assault. Active intervention is an essential approach, and it means taking an active stand and interrupting situations that could lead to sexual assault.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women and one in 71 men are raped in their lifetime. In fiscal year 2015, 1,262 sexual assaults were reported in the Navy alone. “That’s a disheartening and unacceptable total,” said Kennedy. “And we must do everything in our power to reduce that number to zero.”
Navy Medicine East takes every step possible to ensure there are procedures in place to support survivors so that they receive the help needed. Sexual assault response coordinators serve as a single point of contact for sexual assault victims, and victim advocates help with non-clinical crisis intervention. Both are standard terms in Navy medicine and the DoD.
Along with promoting awareness and prevention of sexual assault at Navy Medicine East headquarters, staff at its health care facilities across the eastern hemisphere are also taking this opportunity to challenge views on sexual assault with the goal of stopping it.
Staff at Naval Hospital Beaufort will have several ‘Parent Talks’ at the Family Readiness Center throughout April. Leadership at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point and Naval Hospital Jacksonville kicked off the month with proclamation signing ceremonies on April 5. U.S. Naval Hospital Naples will participate in an annual Silent March April 21 to support survivors. Naval Health Clinic Charleston will have a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Denim Day April 26 and Naval Hospital Pensacola, along with several other facilities, will assemble staff to form human ribbons.
Staff at Navy Medicine East will proclaim their actions against sexual assault and what they’re doing to eliminate it during a month-long social media campaign. NME is also partnering with Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center to spread awareness about sexual assault and prevention in several ways other ways, from holding a moment of silence in support of survivors and victim advocates hosting information booths to civilian employees wearing teal for Teal Tuesdays.
Events like these as well as others taking place across Navy Medicine East’s eastern hemisphere—including 5K runs, survivor workouts, and volleyball and kickball tournaments—all share the goal of helping create a climate of trust and respect for everyone. Activities also encourage conversations regarding professional behavior, decision making, sexual harassment and sexual assault.
NME oversees the delivery of medical, dental and other health care services to approximately one million patients at almost 100 facilities—including the Tidewater Military Health System which brings together McDonald Army Health Center, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley. Plus, its public health activities extend globally. For more information, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/nme.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2017 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 229382 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Navy Medicine East is Stepping Up and Stepping In to Stop Sexual Assault, by CPO Stephane Belcher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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