The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Taking part in two proclamation signings were, from left, Angela Daniels (Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center), Karina Shreve (Randolph County Family Resource Network), Randolph County Commissioner David Kesling, Katelyn Schauman (Centers Against Violence), Peggy Rittenhouse (MountainHeart Community Services), Megan Phares (Centers Against Violence), Tekoa Jones (Centers Against Violence), Deidre Parsons (Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center), Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker, Margot Evick (Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center), and Commission President Cris Siler.

ELKINS – The Randolph County Commission signed a pair of proclamations at its most recent meeting.

Commissioners Cris Siler, David Kesling and Chris See approved the proclamations, which were in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Representatives from Centers Against Violence, Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, Randolph County Family Resource Network, and MountainHeart Community Services attended the meeting.

Katelyn Schauman, Sexual Assault Services Coordinator for Centers Against Violence, spoke to the commission and those in attendance.

“Sexual assaults are very prevalent and they affect every community in the United States,” she said. “Proclamations like this are so important because it brings awareness to an issue that affects people of all ages. Raising public awareness and educating our community is necessary to seeing the end of sexual violence altogether. This is a time for our community to come together and have open conversations to educate ourselves and support survivors.”

The month of April marks the 23rd anniversary of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which was created to call attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every community. SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.

Siler read from the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation, which states, “Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual assaults are widespread and impact every person in the community. The goal is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate the community on how to prevent it.. Rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment harm our community and statistics show that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 67 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Child sexual abuse prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will experience sexual assault before the age of 18.”

National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and supports developed by this collaboration can help parents, other caregivers, and communities protect children and strengthen families.

Siler also read the Proclamation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month during the meeting.

“Nearly five children die every day in America from abuse and neglect,” he read. “Whereas 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by the age of 18… Whereas the victory over child abuse and neglect will not be achieved without the support of the entire community and the recognition of the importance of raising awareness in order to decrease incidents of abuse.”