Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP)

Public Education Campaign

An Overview of VASAP
Public Education Efforts

VASAP's mission is to assist victims of crime and sexual assault. Public education is critical to help reduce the number of crimes and its victims. Prevention is the key. To this end, VASAP seeks public education opportunities to serve its mission.

VASAP launched a public education and awareness campaign with other rape and crisis programs throughout the State of Maryland with the message:

"DON'T KEEP SEXUAL VIOLENCE A SECRET
You Are Not Alone"

The message is aimed at women who have been victims of sexual violence and to those who know of a sexual assault victim with the hope to break down one of the resistance factors that prevent women from seeking the help they need after a sexual assault.

This campaign message is aired on various Cable TV Montgomery Network Channels and on English and Spanish radio stations, as funds permit.  

Radio/TV/Brochure

• "Facts"
• "Half the Time"
• "Rape Crisis-English"
• "Rape Crisis-Spanish"
• "!Gracias Papá!"  (For help, please call 240-777-1355)

On February 14, 2001, VASAP collaborated with the Commission for Women on a Valentine's Day Advisory unveiling the brochure, "Talk to your Daughter about Violence." 

In 1998, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, the State's Attorney and then Councilwoman Gail Ewing joined VASAP and other community groups in launching a public service advertising campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the role that alcohol plays in violence. The concept and design work for the campaign was provided pro bono by Bethesda-based advertising agency, Earl Palmer Brown. The agency has provided a series of diorama-sized posters which give the phone number for Montgomery County's 24-Hour Crisis Center, where callers can be linked with services for alcohol abuse and services for victims. The Mental Health Association's Voices vs. Violence Program, the Victim Services Advisory Board, and the Montgomery County Community Partnership helped sponsor the campaign.