Submitted by SAFE San Juans.

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., SAFE San Juans will host Start by Believing: Action Day on the San Juan County Courthouse lawn. This event is part of a global campaign dedicated to transforming how we respond to sexual assault disclosures by fostering a culture of belief and support.

The primary purpose of this event is to encourage our community to take the Start by Believing Pledge — a commitment to believing survivors when they come forward. Research shows that 58-94% of survivors first seek help from friends and family, making it crucial that our community responds with belief and support. This simple yet powerful act can make all the difference in whether a survivor feels safe enough to seek further help on their healing journey.

Representatives from the following countywide organizations will be present to share information about the services they provide to support survivors on their path to healing:

San Juan County Sheriff’s Office

Eric Peter: 360-370-7621 or ericp@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

Kate Salazar: 360-378-4101 or kates@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Superior Court

Jane Severin: 360-370-7480 or janes@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Superior Court Services

Melanie Kaegi: 360-370-7441 or melaniek@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Linnea Anderson: 360-370-7441 or linneaA@sanjuancountywa.gov.

Peace Island Medical Center

Jack Estrada: 360-378-1723 or JEstrada@peacehealth.org.

SAFE San Juans

Dave Dunaway: 360-378-8680 or dave@safesj.org.

This is an opportunity to learn about the critical resources available in San Juan County for survivors who choose to seek help — whether for themselves or someone they know in the future.

For those unable to attend in person, we invite online and virtual pledges, which will be added to our in-person display. Additionally, the pledge banner will remain on the courthouse lawn throughout April, allowing community members to stop by and add their pledge at any time during the month.