The City of Lone Tree is recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month along with multiple other municipalities and nonprofits within Colorado’s 18th Judicial District Attorney’s office. This year’s theme is “Building Connected Communities,” which focuses on the importance of strong relationships to help prevent sexual assault and support victims. The District Attorney’s office shared:
“Communities create a sense of belonging, and they remind us how our beliefs, choices, and actions impact one another. A community is a powerful resource, and every single person is part of a community. It can be your neighborhood, your friends or family, or even your workplace. This year’s theme calls on communities to address all abuses of power to prevent sexual violence.”
The Lone Tree Police Department’s Victim Services Unit is a vital part of our community. Victim advocates provide victims and/or their families with support services, resources, and crisis intervention at a time when it is most needed. Victim advocates play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims by providing emotional support, guidance through the legal process, and access to resources. They serve as a liaison between victims and law enforcement agencies, ensuring that victims’ voices are heard, and their needs are addressed. Additionally, they may accompany victims to interviews, court proceedings, and medical appointments, offering a sense of security and empowerment. Overall, their goal is to help victims navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system while prioritizing their well-being and recovery.
“The hope of the whole month is to spread awareness through facts and statistics,” shared Brianna Hinojos, a Victim Advocate with the Victim Services Unit. During the month of April, the Victim Advocates team has started a few initiatives throughout Lone Tree. They have painted rocks with a teal ribbon and #SAAM and placed them around the City, distributed informational posters to community partners like Safeway and the Douglas County Library, and given teal ribbon pins to City staff to show support. Our volunteers also wrote encouraging messages to victims to distribute as needed.
“Our volunteers are really the reason we can do what we do,” shared Jennifer Roger-Flynn, another Victim Advocate. In 2023, Victim Advocate volunteers performed over 1900 hours of service and supported countless community members in difficult times. If you would like to know more about how you can support the Victim Services Unit, visit our website.