Each month, Lone Star Legal Aid recognizes victim-centered national and international awareness raising opportunities. These opportunities help crime survivors obtain the information they need to recover and also educate the community on how they can advocate for that particular cause.
Below are all of the awareness opportunities happening in June.
National Elder Abuse Awareness Month
Elder abuse is defined as intentional and negligent acts by a caregiver that causes harm, distress or serious risk. As people become older and frailer, they are unable to take care of themselves and require trusted caregivers to be responsible for their needs.
It is important to know what forms of abuse are happening whether the caregiver is a professional or family member. Prevention and response strategies for vulnerable adult abuse are numerous throughout Texas. If you witness a suspicious situation of elder abuse, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or report online at the TxAbuseHotline.org.
You can find Lone Star Legal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @LStarLegal and the Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network on Twitter @TXCVLAN.
Use hashtag #NationalElderAbuseAwarenessMonth on social media.
National Safety Month
National Safety Month is always recognized during June as a reminder to be vigilant, knowledgeable, understanding and up-to-date on how you can prevent yourself and others from becoming victims of crime. For example, knowing the signs of identity theft can educate you on how to safety manage your personal information. Another example is being aware of your rights when it comes to seeking justice. Below are a few examples of safety categories:
- Domestic violence and sexual assault safety
- Identity theft safety
- Stalking safety
- Bullying safety
- Fraud safety
- Elder abuse safety
- Human/Sex trafficking safety
- Housing/eviction/contracting safety
Use #NationalSafetyMonth or #NationalSafetyMonth2020 on social media.
National Homeownership Awareness Month
All month long, we celebrate the new era of homeownership and recognize people, policies and programs that are bettering the future for homeowners. In addition, this is a great opportunity to learn about homeownership scams such as fraudulent contractors, mortgage scams, unfair lending, and home title fraud, which is when someone steals the title of your home by committing identity theft.
Our Foreclosure Prevention Project will be discussing Mortgage Protection and Foreclosure Protection options on Thursday, June 18, 2020, from 1-3 PM. Homeowners can register at www.nrcdc.org. We will also be hosting a Friday Law Talk with our community partner, Credit Coalition, to discuss how CARES Act can protect homeowners from foreclosure during the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, June 19, 2020, at 3 PM on Facebook Live.
Use #CreatingHome and #ANewEra on social media.
National PTSD Awareness Month
National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is celebrated annually in June and the awareness day is June 27. It aims to raise awareness of the disorder itself, which is a mental health problem that can develop after a person has endured a traumatic event such as war, sexual assault, or a natural disaster.
Symptoms of PTSD include distressing dreams, persistent thoughts, recurring flashbacks or avoidance of places and activities, which can trigger emotional responses.
Use #NationalPTSDAwarenessMonth and #NationalPTSDAwarenessDay on social media.
PRIDE Month
Every June, Pride month recognizes the differences in sexuality preference and honors those who have fallen victim to LGBTQ+ crimes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the number of hate crime incidents targeting lesbians, gays and bisexuals has increased by 6 percent over the previous years in the United States. Anti-transgender hate crime incidents have increased by 41 percent.
This June, the US Supreme Court reaffirmed its commitment to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community by issuing a landmark Opinion that ensures employees protection in the event they are fired for being themselves.
Use #PRIDE, #PrideMonth or #PrideMonth2020 on social media.
ISP Communications Coordinator, Jim Mitchell said “with quarantine safety measures in place across the country, LGBTQ+ youth are at an even greater risk of social isolation and depression. Online resources have become increasingly more important for LGBTQ+ youth to maintain their mental and emotional health during and after this period.” If you would like to read their article on LGBTQ+ youth, please click here.
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Crime Victim Unit and Individual Safety Unit assist survivors of crime with civil legal issues that result from their victimization. Those legal issues can range from crime victims’ compensation, divorces, and even housing and consumer issues. If you or a loved one is in need of help, you can apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org or over the telephone at 1-800-733-8394. For other resources, please visit www.texasvictimnetwork.org.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves the millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org
Media contact: Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org
