The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) informally polled state sexual assault coalitions to determine when to have a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week. A week in April was selected. Over time, some advocates began focusing attention on sexual violence throughout the month of April. In the late 1990s, many advocates began coordinating activities throughout the month of April on a regular basis, promoting an idea for a nationally recognized month for sexual violence awareness activities.

From 2000-2001, the Resource Sharing Project (RSP) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) polled state, territory, and tribal coalitions and found that the color teal was the preferred color for sexual assault awareness and prevention and that April was the preferred month to coordinate national sexual assault awareness activities. As a result, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first observed nationally in April 2001.

Since then, the NSVRC has continued to promote a degree of national unity in voice and action regarding SAAM activities, to encourage interaction and feedback from across the nation, and to build momentum based on previous years' activities. The NSVRC has provided resources to advocates nationwide to help them plan SAAM activities in their communities during April and throughout the year. These resources have included publications (e.g., newsletters, booklets, and directories); prevention materials (e.g., palm cards and online resources); and awareness-raising products (e.g., pins, posters, stickers, and postcards).

Additionally, the NSVRC has taken an active role in making sexual violence awareness and prevention resources available to the U.S. territories and the healthcare community. Over the last few years, the NSVRC has placed increasing emphasis on the prevention of sexual violence. As a result, the SAAM campaigns have included a greater focus on prevention. 

By working together and pooling our resources during the month of April, we can highlight sexual violence as a major public health, human rights and social justice issue and reinforce the need for prevention efforts.

UnderAWARE Underwear Drive

Each April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Victim Service Center solicits contributions from the community on behalf of the clients we serve who have been victims of sexual assault.

The UnderAWARE Underwear Drive is a clothing donation and fund-giving campaign to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence and the promotion of a community free of violence against women and men. Victims of sexual violence have their clothing taken as evidence during the forensic investigation. The Victim Service Center provides replacement clothing for them and advocacy services as part of our sexual assault services.

This year the needed clothing items for our clients include:

• Women's Underwear
• Sports Bras
• Stretchy Pants and Shorts
• Bed linen/sheets
• Travel-Size Personal Care Items: shampoo & conditioner, body wash, mouth wash, toothpaste, deodorant