Sexual Assault Prevention Action Team of Kent County
SAPAT collaborates, educates, and creates holistic change to eliminate sexual violence in Kent County.
While many parents might acknowledge that youth are impacted by issues such as bullying, harassment and violence, a much smaller percentage believe they have knowledge and tools to proactively address these issues.
The Kent County Sexual Assault Prevention Action Team (SAPAT) is hoping to change this through an education series, Parents Let’s Talk.
“Our goal is to talk to parents of youth of all ages,” said Jordan Ebanaya, SAPAT member. “Participants will have the opportunity to learn about relevant information that is often hard to have conversations about.”
The series kicks off June 22 at 10:00 a.m. and is focused on how to talk to kids about bullying; additional discussions are June 24 at 6:00 pm and will focus on consent, and June 26 at 6:00 pm and will focus on alcohol and drugs. To register and for complete information on the location, visit www.eventbrite.com and search SAPAT Presents.
Ebanaya said it is often hard for parents to discuss topics like these because they don’t have the language to engage in the conversation.
“The goal of the series is to remove shame and stigma, while empowering parents with the tools they need to promote violence prevention.”
SAPAT member Rachel McKay said one of the goals of the Parents Let’s Talk series is to get parents and caregivers together that are equally passionate about supporting the youth and children in their lives.
“We hope to create a safe space for people to be vulnerable and learn together,” McKay said.
Every adult participant of the series receives a $25 dollar gift card and child care will be provided for children over 2 years.
The SAPAT team plans to continue the series throughout the year, and hopes to gain valuable feedback as they pilot the initiative this summer.
To find out more about SAPAT, including how you might get involved, visit www.sapat.org.
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