Image Description: A photo of a field of yellow and cream daffodils in the sun
This month is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Autism Awareness Month! Join us as we discuss our programming for social workers at local colleges, resources available for sexual assault survivors and some of our favorite organizations founded by and for autistic people!
Recent
Image Description (Right): A flyer with abstract colorful shapes. It reads "A client says good morning, then says they were sexually assaulted last night. Would you know what to do? The remaining text is on the image is in the description below.
A Survivor's Voice
In March, our Founder, Alyson Wick was a guest speaker for "A Survivor's Voice" at Capital University, with Nora Flanagan, MFA, RASS.
This event was open to Capital University graduate school counseling students. Students learned what helped our Founder heal in therapy, outside of therapy, and which trauma informed approaches were conducive to her healing journey.
Attendees walked away with tangible tools and immediately accessible resources for survivors. This was free service event from CAP in order to enhance the knowledge of the trauma surrounding sexual assault, and what can be helpful responses to sexual assault survivors for the future.
Would your college be interested in having a similar presentation?
Email us at survivorcards@gmail.com with subject "A Survivor's Voice"
Image Description: A light blue square has a purple rectangle at the top with white font that says "Thank You!" In black font "Over 50 cards donated to The Center for Family Safety and Healing!" Below this is the logo for that organization, which is a blue and green illustrated tree
March Card Drive
Thank you to everyone who wrote Survivor Cards for our drive benefitting The Center for Family Safety and Healing!
With your help, we were able to help them with over 50 cards, in both English and Spanish!
We hope to collaborate with them again in the future.
Image Description: A light blue square has a teal rectangle at the top with white font reading "Thank You!" Black font reads "Over 200 books donated to the Clermont County Juvenile Detention Center" and below this is the Clermont County logo, which is a sun, green hill and blue circular shape.
March Book Drive
Thank you to everyone who donated books to our March book drive benefiting the Clermont County Juvenile Detention Center!
With your help, we were able to provide them with over 200 books (both used and new) for the 12-18 year olds in their custody.
Upcoming
Image Description: A white banner has an illustration of a jar and two hands placing drawn heart shapes into it. The Survivor Cards logo, a white envelope with a teal seal and a piece of paper jumping out with the organization's name is on the jar. The information from below is in teal and black font. A teal rectangle has white font that reads "Donate Prizes Now!"
Survivor Cards' Sizzling Summer Raffle!
Mark your calendars for July 12-14th and follow us on Facebook for more updates.
An online, summer raffle and fundraiser is coming your way!
This event will run Friday-Sunday and include opportunities to buy raffle tickets to buy entries to win awesome items, like:
Handmade Stationery Sets from Cincinnati's own Lori Manning,
A giant Raising Cane's gift basket with gift cards, merch and gift cards,
Self-Care items like face masks, nail sets, bath bombs & more!
Want to provide a donated prize?
Contact Alyson Wick at 567-303-2275 or email us at survivorcards@gmail.com
Deadline for prize drop-off will be Sunday, June 30th.
Prizes will be marked whether they are digital, pick-up only or available to be shipped!
Image Description: The Girl Scout logo is to the left on this image, which is made up of a trefoil shape with 3 women's faces in white and green. The black font reads "girl scouts of western ohio"
Girl Scout Event
Do you have a Brownie or Junior Girl Scout in your family in the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio service unit area?
Join us on June 2nd from 6 - 8 PM for Spreading the Love with Survivor Cards!
"One small act of kindness can cause a ripple effect and change someone's life! Girls will learn age-appropriate mental health tools and trauma-intervention skills at this program. They will then use what they've learned, along with Girl Scout core values to provide hope and healing words to a person in need with handwritten cards. Fun Patch included. After registering, please navigate to your My Events tab and select this event. There, you will find a link to a PDF confirmation with further information about the program."
The program costs $5 per girl, but is free for adults.
Image Description: A beige and pink image features two women walking and talking, one has brown skin and long brown hair, wearing a brown purse, blue pants and a beige long sleep jacket and brown shoes. The other woman has peach colored skin, black long hair, and wears a pink backpack, white long sleeve shirt, blue pants and beige shoes. The info below is written in beige font.
Girl Boss Walking - Anderson
Our women's walking group is back and better than ever!
Formerly known as Hot Girls Walking - Anderson, we were forced to change our name due to Facebook's newest policies.
Still the same group with the same values!
Join us this Friday, April 19th at 6 PM for a walk at Beech Acres!
All women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds welcome.
Join our private Facebook group to find walking buddies, plan walks & more!
Image Description: A tan skinned woman with long brown hair, wearing a white shirt and white cardigan looks down at her phone, while touching the back of her head, in thought. She is standing outside in front of a building, which is blurred in the background.
Sexual Assault Survivor Resources
This month, we'd like to reshare some of our favorite national and local resources for survivors of trauma:
National Crisis Resources
800-656-4673 - 24/7
Online Chat Option
RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and is in partnership with over 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country.
1-800-799-7233 - 24/7
Online Chat Option or text "start" to 88788
Get help, plan for safety, identify abuse or get connected to local resources.
1-800-273-8255 - 24/7
Online Chat Option
Free and confidential help, with connection to crisis services.
You can also dial 988 in some cases to reach them quickly.
Text HOME to 741741 - 24/7 line or visit their website for chat and WhatsApp options
Dial 211 or text “211CARES” to 51555 – Usually 24/7!Local Resources and Services such as financial assistance, non-profit mental health services and addiction recovery referrals
877-565-8860 - 24/7
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support.
They're run by and for trans people.
1-866-488-7386 - 24/7
Online Chat Option or text 'START' to 678-678
Suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQIA+ youth
Live chat is available weekdays 9-5 ET
1-888-373-7888 - 24/7
Local (Non-Crisis) Resources
EmpowHer & Move - A leadership development and fitness summer program for high-school girls who live in Anderson Township and Newtown, OH. Participants embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, leadership empowerment, friendship and physical and mental fitness!
Tristate Trauma Network - Offers high-quality training to service-industry professionals on trauma-responsive care and educating the public on how trauma plays a crucial role in our emotions,
behaviors, and ultimately, our futures.
Lighthouse Youth & Family Services - Mental health services, including same-day assessments, as well as youth housing, emergency shelter, community juvenile justice services, residential treatment, and foster care and adoption for children 0-24.
Image Description: A white infinity symbol (the neurodiversity symbol) is surrounded by splatters of colorful water color paint making a rainbow around it.
Alternatives to Autism Speaks
As most people know by now, Autism Speaks, while large and well-known is not a good organization for autistic people and has a history of providing harmful resources and practices.
This April, consider lighting it up red instead of blue (Autism isn't sad!), using the infinity symbol instead of a puzzle (Autistic people aren't mysterious or missing parts!) and supporting organizations ran by and for autistic people.
Some of our favorite self-advocacy organizations include:
As always, thank you for reading and being here! Here's to a wonderful month ahead!
If you'd like to receive these bi-monthly communications straight to your email, simply visit our website, scroll to the bottom and enter your e-mail address! If you'd like to get in touch, please email us at survivorcards@gmail.com
-Alyson Wick, Founder of Survivor Cards, Hot Girls Walking and Diversity Book Fairies of Cincinnati
(Individual, Self or Organization)