Each year, during the month of April, NOVA honors and recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month provides us with an opportunity to raise awareness of these important issues and educate communities and individuals on resources available to victims and survivors.
NOVA has worked to develop a variety of events this April and we invite you to join us throughout the month in-person, online, and on social media. All events are FREE and open to the public. Some events may require preregistration. For more information, click on the events in our interactive calendar or under the drop-down menu below. We hope that you will join us for one or more events in April.
A note for victims and survivors:
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or another victimization, April may be a difficult time for you. NOVA’s Helpline (1-800-675-6900) is always open and available should you need assistance or someone to talk to.
April 2 - Learn about NOVA at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Church
NOVA will speak at BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, April 2, 2023 to discuss NOVA services and their impact on the community. Join us for Sunday’s Programming and hear how to support NOVA’s mission.
April 3 - ClothesLine Project
NOVA will be participating in The ClothesLine Project this April. The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of the impact of violence and abuse, to honor a survivor’s strength to continue, and to provide another avenue for them to courageously break the silence that often surrounds their experience. It is a vehicle for those affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang the shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others.
Shirts will be available to decorate at the Candle Light Tribute event and at NOVA’s offices.
April 4 - Candlelight Tribute
NOVA invites the community to join us in honoring victims of crime, their families and friends, and those who serve them. This tribute of reflection, music, and victim/survivor experiences brings all in our community together for healing and awareness. Also featured is an exhibit of victim and survivor artwork.
April 5 - Sexual Health and Wellness Conference at Bucks County Community College
NOVA will present about Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention at Bucks County Community College’s Sexual Health and Wellness Conference.
Join us in the Gallagher Room at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus from 8:00am-12:30pm.
April 6 - #BookClub "Know My Name"
Read with us! NOVA’s #BookClub pick for April is “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller. Read along and share your thoughts with us on social media!
Her name is Chanel Miller.
For four years, she has been known publicly as Emily Doe, “an unconscious woman” or simply “Brock Turner’s victim.” In her memoir Know My Name, Miller recounts her experience being sexually assaulted by Brock Turner on Stanford University’s campus. Know My Name is a devastating, immersive memoir of her sexual assault and its aftermath. This case became notorious for its illustration of the race and wealth gap in sentencing, and for the stinging eloquence of Miller’s victim statement, which went instantly viral.
April 7 - Forensic Friday
Join us on Facebook all month to get to know our Forensic Team! Every team member plays an integral part in helping to keep individuals safe from violence. Learn about their roles, and how they help our communities.
April 8 - #OurWhy
Check out our Facebook page today to hear why NOVA staff members and other community partners work to support victims and survivors!
April 9 - Walk and Reflect
Mindfulness is a great tool to keep in your coping skills toolbox! Mindfulness can be defined as the mental state that is achieved by focusing on and being fully immersed in the present moment. This includes paying attention to and accepting thoughts, feelings, and body sensations as they come up and exist in the current moment. Mindfulness can be utilized to help regulate emotions, calm the body, and decrease intrusive thoughts. Mindfulness can also help decrease stress levels in the body and increase feelings of relaxation.
There are many ways to incorporate mindfulness into our daily routines, both at work and our personal lives. From practicing active listening skills to meditation, mindfulness practices help us focus on the present with curiosity, kindness and acceptance. One of our favorite ways to practice mindfulness—partially because it’s ideal for anyone from novice to advanced and partially because we like to go outside—is by taking a mindful walk.
Mindful walking has many benefits. Not only are there physical benefits of walking in itself but mindful walking can reduce blood pressure and heart rate, create feelings of wellbeing, provide better sleep, improve mood and manage stress.
Take some time to care for yourself today and take a mindful walk – you might be surprised at how beneficial it can be!
April 10 - Conversate about Consent
Talking about consent with our children offers the perfect opportunity to help young people develop skills regarding boundaries and empathy. It is important to have these conversations early and often. Being comfortable discussing concepts surrounding consent will show everyone that how we treat one another matters. Check out our Instagram today for more info, and have a conversation about consent today.
April 11 - Follow BCAT on Instagram!
Follow BCAT on Instagram and learn how you can contribute to the fight against human trafficking in Bucks County!
April 12 - #StaySafeOnline
Check out our Facebook page today for tips on how you and your family can #StaySafeOnline!
April 13 - Post a Pinwheel for Child Abuse Prevention Month!
April has been designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM) since 1983 and the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign was introduced by Prevent Child Abuse America in 2008.
Why a pinwheel? Pinwheels symbolize notions of playfulness, joy and childhood. The pinwheel is a reminder of the happy, healthy and supportive childhoods we want every child to experience, and a reminder of the role we play in a child’s life. Show your support for our children by making your own pinwheel display and tagging us on social media with a photo!
April 14 - Forensic Friday
Join us on Facebook all month to get to know our Forensic Team! Every team member plays an integral part in helping to keep individuals safe from violence. Learn about their roles, and how they help our communities.
April 15 - Contact the Capital - Support K-12 Consent Education in PA!
Contact your state senator to share your support of SB293! This bill will improve Pennsylvania’s policies preventing sexual assault and abuse, and improve all relationships by requiring consent education in school curriculum.
April 16 - Volunteer Appreciation Week
We ❤ our volunteers! Visit our Facebook page every day this week to learn more about our volunteers. To learn more about volunteering with NOVA, click here!
April 17 - The Violent Toll of Addiction Panel at Delaware Valley University
NOVA Senior Counselor Kevin Keller will be featured on a panel at Delaware Valley University. The presentation, “The Violent Toll of Addiction, Why the Community Should Care & How We Can Be Part of the Solution” will share a frank conversation about the realities of emerging drug trends and the role addiction plays in violent crimes across the state.
April 18 - Talking With Our Children About Online Exploitation Webinar
Please join NOVA’s Training Institute for a webinar on commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). This training will review how to understand and confront CSEC in our community. Our panel of specialists will review social media use and how to start and continue discussions with your children on the dangers of online exploitation.
April 19 - Place Your Bids!
NOVA’s Annual Auction and Gala, An Evening at the Garden Party, is on Thursday, April 20th! Even if you can’t make it to the event, be sure to check out the amazing items and experiences we have available in our silent auction and get your bids in before it’s too late! Bidding starts April 13th and ends at 7:30pm on April 20th!
April 20 - An Evening at the Garden Party
Join us for NOVA’s Annual Auction and Gala on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at The Warrington! The event will feature dinner, entertainment, drinks, and a silent auction. The silent auction will feature over 100 items including art, jewelry, experiences, services, and much more!
April 21 - Forensic Friday
Join us on Facebook all month to get to know our Forensic Team! Every team member plays an integral part in helping to keep individuals safe from violence. Learn about their roles, and how they help our communities.
April 22 - #MovieNight "She Said"
Join NOVA and have a movie night in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month – “She Said” covers stories of celebrities and former company employees who would confirm a history of harassment, rape as well as consequent non-disclosure bribery. It includes stories of powerful men caught in the act and women finding the courage to come forward and tell it all.
There is a narration of the Harvey Weinstein case and how it exposes an entire house of cards built on deception, abuse of power, politics, cooperate denial, and greedy ambition.
She Said is a powerful true story that reminds viewers of its place in history and the movement it sparked.
“She Said” is available to stream on Peacock.
April 23 - National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Sunday, April 23rd marks the start of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
During NCVRW, the Office for Victims of Crime leads communities across the Nation to honor victims and recognize the professionals who support them.
The 2023 NCVRW theme is Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change. This year’s theme calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported.
Join OVC and NOVA during NCVRW 2023 as we commit to elevating and engaging survivors to lift their voices, inform policy and practice, and thereby effect change. By engaging survivors, we will ensure our responses and services to victims and survivors are credible, meaningful, and centered on their individual needs.
April 24 - Crime Victims' Rights Rally, Harrisburg
Each year, the Crime Victims’ Alliance of PA holds a rally in Harrisburg to advocate for the rights of victims and survivors. Join us at the state capital on April 24th, or follow along on CVAP’s Facebook for photos, live streams, and more!
Visit the Crime Victims’ Alliance of PA Facebook page for more information ➜
April 25 - #VictimsHaveRights
ALL victims of crime have rights. In addition, there are standards of service that victims can expect to receive. The standards help ensure that victims receive information, practical and emotional support, and are able to participate fully in the criminal justice system. These standards were created to make sure that victims are treated with dignity and respect at all times, regardless of your gender, age, marital status, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability or religion.
Visit our Facebook page to learn more about the rights afforded to victims of crime, and view the Victims’ Bill of Rights here.
April 26 - Wear Denim Day
April 26th is Wear Denim Day! Wear your favorite denim to show your support for survivors of sexual assault and eliminate victim blaming.
Wear Denim Day takes place every year on the last Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Denim Day campaign was developed by Peace Over Violence in Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.
Post a photo of yourself wearing denim on social media and tag NOVA to show your support for victims of sexual assault!
April 27 - Stewards of Children, Souderton Brethren in Christ Church
Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” is a two hour program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. This training features survivors and professionals in the field to help equip participants with the tools necessary for preventing childhood sexual abuse. The training conveys a five-step approach through an audio-visual presentation and supplemental workbook for each participant.
Join us at Souderton Brethren in Christ Church on April 27 for this free training. Open to the Community.
April 28 - Forensic Friday
Join us on Facebook all month to get to know our Forensic Team! Every team member plays an integral part in helping to keep individuals safe from violence. Learn about their roles, and how they help our communities.
April 29 - #StrikeAPose
While there are various ways to relieve stress and its symptoms, research has shown that yoga can help lower stress levels and reduce anxiety. Yoga allows relaxation for both the mind and body by utilizing poses that promote relieving tension and increasing flexibility, while also encouraging one to maintain awareness of the present moment. Get curious about all of the different ways you can move your body by trying out various yoga poses.
Click on the image to enlarge and learn about sun salutations!
April 30 - Bikers Against Child Abuse Breakfast Ride
Bikers Against Child Abuse of Bucks County is holding a Breakfast Ride benefitting NOVA!
The ride will begin at the Warminster VFW at 9:00AM. Even if you don’t have a bike, come out and join for breakfast! Visit BACA Bucks County’s Facebook page for more information.