Tonight, the Dane County Board Recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, National Child Abuse Month, and Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
April 10, 2025
Dane County Board Office, (608) 266-5758
County Board
Madison – Tonight, the Dane County Board passed resolutions recognizing sexual assault awareness month, national crime victims’ rights week, national child abuse prevention month, and work zone safety awareness week. Supervisors Welsh, Jackson, and Engelberger read the resolutions and invited community stakeholders to speak on each topic. Links to the special resolutions are here: 2024 RES-396; 2024 RES-394; 2024 RES-397.
The 2025 theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “Together We Act, United We Change,” a powerful call to action, encouraging communities to work together to prevent sexual harassment, abuse, and assault while also creating safer, more supportive environments for all. It emphasizes the need to educate, uplift survivor voices, and engage people of all ages in building a future free from sexual violence. The Board also recognizes April 6–12, 2025, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme, “Kinship,” calls for us to recognize our shared humanity and the importance of connection in supporting survivors of all forms of violence and crime.
“Recognizing Crime Victims' Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month across Dane County is more than a symbolic gesture—it's a commitment to justice, healing, and prevention,” said Supervisor Erin Welsh. “By honoring the lived experiences of survivors and amplifying their voices, we drive meaningful change that ensures every victim is seen, heard, and supported.”
“The Rape Crisis Center’s Sexual Violence Resource Center would like to thank the Dane County Board for their recognition of survivors and their resilience and the hard work that many victim service agencies provide in Dane County,” said Dana Pellebon, Executive Director of the Rape Crisis Center. “In addition, we want to express our gratitude to Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and interim Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Astra Iheukumere for their steadfast commitment to survivors through funding priorities and working hand in hand with organizations like ours.”
“Lives can be shattered by crime. No one is immune to being a crime victim; it could happen to anyone, at any moment,” said Amy Brown, Dane County Director of Victim Witness Services. “What happens next is critical for healing, and each one of us has the power to promote healing. Whether it is a moment of compassion and warmth offered to a victim or work toward preserving programs and services to crime victims, we all can do something to promote healing and repair harm.”
Sexual assault is a pervasive issue that impacts individuals across all demographics. Survivors often face a complex journey toward healing, yet only a fraction of them get the care they need, which can lead to long-term physical, social, and economic harm,” said Kim Curran, DNP, SANE-A, co-founder of DaneMAC. “It is crucial our community steps up to create a supportive environment. DaneMAC’s goal is to literally meet college-age survivors where they are, removing barriers to accessing care. Post-assault care should be easy to find. Easy to book. Easy, period.”
The County Board designated April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month:
“Children are our most precious and vulnerable members of society,” said Supervisor Lisa Jackson. “They are deserving of love, care, and protection.”
“National Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds us to unite and use the power of prevention to address the pain children and families are suffering,” said Sharyl J. Kato, Executive Director of the Rainbow Project Child & Family Counseling & Community Resource Clinic. “We hope this is the beginning of a deeper dialogue to focus on solutions for building a strong and safe future where children and families thrive.”
"It takes the whole community to prevent child abuse,” said Jennifer Ginsberg, Director of the Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center. “That includes supporting families to help their children be safe and healthy, and being a champion for children when it appears they are being abused. Safe Harbor is grateful for Dane County's support of services that are crucial to serving this most vulnerable community members: our children in need."
The week of April 21st is designated as Work Zone Safety Awareness Week:
“Safe driving practices should always be a priority. It is even more critical to drive carefully and safely while in a work safety zone,” said Supervisor Michael Engelberger. “We all want to get home to our families safely. Let’s make sure our construction road workers who fix our roads at great risk are able to see their families after their shifts as well!”
The full agenda from tonight’s meeting is available here: https://dane.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1250227&GUID=C9C6C7C7-EAFD-412D-BECC-48164E036348