Bannock County sexual assault task force promotes ending sexual assault and abuse

According to the Family Services Alliance of Pocatello, one in six men and one in three women are victims of sexual assault.

April is National Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Tuesday, Bannock County’s sexual assault task force held an event to talk about the importance of this issue.

Their goal was to raise awareness about abuse and assault in the community, but also to show people there are resources for help right in their own county.

“What we really want to do is help our community understand that there are many people that are working to end these issues and many people who are in support of survivors,” said Sarah O’Banion, director of Family Services Alliance.

The task force brought together local law enforcement, FBI, community health professionals and social services organizations. Everyone formed a picture-perfect ribbon to symbolize their support for the community.

“This picture sends a message of solidarity and hope to every survivor in our community,” said O’Banion.

The task force hopes to get the picture out to the community and on social media to show how many resources are available to help those in abusive or violent situations.

Not every county has their own sexual assault task force, which Child Welfare Services said makes Bannock County’s all the more important.

“We’re incredibly lucky,” said Chris Freeburne, programs manager at Child Welfare Services. “There just can’t be too many people that spread the word and create opportunities like this for the public.”

“I’m just grateful that we have these kind of organizations in our community that draw attention to, and give us solutions to, some of these great, challenging problems,” said Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England.

The task force wants community awareness and involvement to spread, and so it issued a challenge.

“We’d like to challenge other communities throughout Southeastern Idaho and Idaho to do something similar,” said O’Banion. “Bring our community together and say no to child abuse and sexual violence.”

The task force said one of the biggest problems with sexual assault is that too many cases go unreported. Members of the task force think this is because often the public doesn’t know where to go for help. It hopes that Tuesday’s “Living the Cause” event will help change that.

To contact the Bannock County task force, call 208-232-0742.

More information on the task force and its resources can be found on itswebsite.