April news & updates
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Upcoming Events
  • Outreach at Mount Marty University
  • April 7th & 21st
  • Outreach at University of South Dakota
  • April 22nd & 28th
  • Survivors Rock
  • Free Event April 9th
  • Denim Day
  • April 28th
Service Spotlight
  • AWOL USD
Now Hiring
  • Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator
  • On-Call Advocate
End Victim Blaming
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As an agency, we will spend the month not only focusing on survivors, but speading an important message to the community: End Victim Blaming.
If you'd like to learn more about the origins of SAAM, click the link below.
The Importance of Avoiding Victim Blaming
Why Do We Victim Blame?
It seems as natural as saying "Bless you" when someone sneezes; When something bad happens to someone, we go into problem solving mode.
"What could they have done differently so that didn't happen? Maybe if they had done this instead..."
"That wouldn't have happened to me because I would have..."
This type of thinking makes us feel safer in our lives as we continue to think something bad couldn't happen to us.
What Does Victim Blaming Sound Like?
“She should have known better.”
"She's always flirting."
"Why did she wait so long to report?"
“What did he expect?”
“Did you see what she was wearing?”
“But he provoked them.”
"She shouldn’t have gotten so wasted.”
“They both have a lot of problems.”
“Why didn’t she just leave?”
“She was asking for it.”
Blaming Silences Victims
You may not even realize you are doing it, but it is important to remember that what we say, and what we allow to be said, shapes the way our community reacts to these acts of violence.
Victim blaming is not only harmful to the survivor, but it's harmful to the community as a whole. Victim blaming silences survivors, and a silenced survivor means the crime goes unreported. An unreported crime means the perpetrator is left to hurt someone else.
Abuse, assaults and other forms of violence are never the victims fault. They NEVER brought it on themselves.
How We Can Help End The Silence
  • Make sure victims have a safe place to be heard
  • Confront victim blaming when you hear it; be an advocate for survivors
  • Ensure that all survivors know that what happened to them is NOT their fault.
  • Never allow perpetrators to blame their victim for their actions, or to blame alcohol/drugs.
  • Work to understand how your own implicit bias affects how you view victims, or those who are the "perfect victims" for acts of violence.
  • Recognize how your gender bias affects how your interpret a story about sexual assault or rape.
Service Spotlight
We are so thankful for the USD AWOL service organization. These amazing women spent their day building bunkbeds, organizing clothing, and cleaning. They absolutely crushed every task given to them, and even donated t-shirts and homemade blankets too! Thank you for the smiles and laughter you brought to our safe haven.
What did you want for your 10th birthday? Alice and Hope shared a birthday party and instead of gifts for themselves, they requested donations for River City Domestic Violence Center. These amazing girls brought DIY crafts and activities for children their age who may spend time in our safe haven. We are so grateful for your generosity and beautiful hearts. Thank you Alice and Hope.
These amazing kids stopped by after school to lend a few hours to our shelter. They helped carry furniture, cleaned and loaded up garbage for the City dump. They never complained and enthusiasticly looked for more work to complete!
Our gloomy, rainy days have been brightened by Cal Starzl, our volunteer carpenter. He built our shelter clients and OT a planter! The planter will let survivors dig in and plant life to bloom from within. Thank you Cal for your amazing work as always.
Upcoming Events
Survivors Rock!
We will be holding a FREE Rock Painting event for the whole family to enjoy! The purpose of this event is to show survivors of violence that we support them and WE BELIEVE.
After painting your rock, you can keep it or hide it in the community for someone, possibly a survivor, to find. 1 in 3 women experience sexual violence in their lifetime, so if we can touch the hearts of 1 out of 3 rocks we hide, we'll show survivors that Yankton cares.

When: April 9th from Noon-3 PM
Where: ACE Parking Lot
Every Monday Night:
Join Our Team
Wishlist
River City Domestic Violence Center