SANTA MARIA, Calif. - San Luis Obispo Police Chief Stephen Gesell and Jane Pomeroy from North County Women's Shelter & Resource Center / Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention Center, stopped by our studios to chat with Dave and Cassandra about a new public awareness campaign focuses on improving the public response to sexual assault called, "Start Believing."
Numerous local criminal justice and community agencies have partnered to launch a unique public awareness campaign in San Luis Obispo County that focuses on improving the public response to sexual assault.
The campaign is called "Start by Believing," because a friend or family member is typically the first person a victim confides in after an assault, and each person's reaction is the first step in a long path toward justice and healing. Knowing how to respond is critical-a negative response can worsen the trauma and foster an environment where sexual assault predators face zero consequences for their crimes.
Other communities that launched the Start By Believing campaign saw an increase in reported sexual assaults and survivors seeking services. The agencies involved in launching the campaign in SLO County are prepared to respond to survivors in our county. If you or anybody you know has been sexually assaulted, help and resources are available 24-hours a day by calling the SARP Center at (805) 545-8888 or 1-800-656-HOPE.
For more information, please visit www.startbybelieving.org <http://www.startbybelieving.org> or www.sarpcenter.org <http://www.sarpcenter.org>. Join the movement locally and get updates at www.facebook.com/StartByBelieving <http://www.facebook.com/StartByBelieving>.
