Bronson's Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Celebrates Two BCPS Staff Members

For the last 24 years, Sexual Assault Services (SAS), a department of Bronson Battle Creek, has been supporting individuals and families in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties through counseling services, advocacy and training. Each year SAS recognizes community members and volunteers for their commitment to the SAS vision and for their service to sexual assault victims. This year, two members of the BCPS family - Casey Bess from Battle Creek Central High School and Edward Harris II from Dudley STEM Elementary School - were recognized and we could not be more proud. Both are shining examples of what it means to be an educator and an advocate in BCPS and why our staff is second to none.

DOUGLAS MEHLHORN MD MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM AND SERVICE

Edward has gone above and beyond as an advocate by taking countless on-call shifts every month. He is an inspiration to both staff, and volunteers with his effortless ability to empathize with those in crisis. He is very thoughtful in his words and actions, and participates in trainings for new volunteers where he shares his wisdom and experience about how to support people coming in for services.

Edward is a Battle Creek Public Schools special education paraprofessional in the Intensive Resource Room for the Cognitive Impaired with Behaviors. He is currently completing his last year of graduate school at Siena Heights University for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He has been a survivor advocate since October 2017.

Outstanding Professional Partner in Prevention

This award is given each year to an individual or group who has gone above and beyond to create a community free of sexual violence. The work Coach Bess has done with young athletes is worthy of this recognition. We recognize and celebrate his commitment to having courageous conversations with young men and implementing the Coaching Boys Into Men program to teach healthy relationship skills and reduce interpersonal violence. Thank you Coach Bess for partnering with Sexual Assault Services to pilot this program and for your willingness to support other coaches in doing so in the future. You truly are an Outstanding Partner in Prevention.

Sexual Assault Services is committed to providing empathic, non-judgmental, comprehensive services, support and advocacy for survivors and others affected by sexual assault or abuse; raising awareness of sexual assault; and engaging others to help in holding offenders accountable and to achieve a community free of sexual violence.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of sexual assault, there are a variety of ways we can help. To learn more, take a look at the services provided by SAS.

• 24-hour crisis line
• Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE)
• Victim and survivor advocacy
• Children's Advocacy Center
• Counseling services
• Animal assisted therapy
• Educational presentations
• Volunteer program

Interested in learning more about how to get involved with SAS? They are currently recruiting new volunteers! Contact them today at (269) 245-3906 or click here for more information.