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Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.

Each March, we recognize National Social Work Month — a time to honor the profession dedicated to enhancing human well-being, meeting basic needs, and centering the empowerment of people who are vulnerable or facing injustice.

The 2026 theme, “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.”, reflects the depth and urgency of this work. Social workers across the country are strengthening individuals, defending rights, and helping communities move toward stability and resilience.

At Younity, social work is not confined to a single title. It is the foundation of how we serve.

Through counseling, advocacy, safe housing, transitional support, prevention and education, and administrative coordination, our team works together to ensure that individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence are met with safety, dignity, and steady support.

Social work at Younity means walking beside someone in crisis. It means answering a hotline call. It means sitting in court. It means helping a child process trauma. It means teaching young people about healthy relationships. It means managing the systems that make all of that possible.

Under this umbrella of social work, we are deeply grateful for:

• Counselors and counselor advocates
• Response team and hotline advocates
• Safe House and Transitional Housing staff
• Prevention and education professionals
• Administrative team members who keep services running

Each role is distinct. Each is essential. Together, they uplift, defend, and help transform lives. Together, we are stronger than abuse.

25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward

For 25 years, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) has united survivors, advocates, and communities in a shared commitment to end sexual assault, abuse, and harassment.

The 2026 theme — “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward” — honors the survivors and advocates who laid the foundation for change, while renewing our focus on prevention, healing, and action.

At Younity, this month is both a reflection and a call forward.

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What Sexual Violence Means

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact or behavior carried out without consent. It can include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual touching
• Sexual exploitation or trafficking
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Exposure without consent
• Words or actions of a sexual nature against someone’s will

Sexual violence often intersects with domestic violence, stalking, and coercive control. Many victim-survivors know the person who harmed them. Abuse does not always involve a stranger, and it does not always leave visible injuries.

It is about power. It is about control. And it is preventable.

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Why Awareness Still Matters

Research continues to show the widespread impact of sexual violence:

• More than half of women and nearly one-third of men report experiencing contact sexual violence in their lifetime.
• Most victim-survivors report that the person who harmed them was someone they knew.
• Rates are disproportionately high among Black women, Hispanic women, American Indian and Alaska Native women, people with intellectual disabilities, and transgender individuals.

These realities remind us that sexual violence affects people across all communities. Awareness reduces stigma. Education strengthens prevention. Open conversations create safer environments.

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Younity’s Commitment

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is not limited to April. Our work continues year-round.

Through our Counseling & Support Services and Education & Prevention Program, Younity:

• Provides 24/7 confidential hotline support
• Offers counseling and advocacy for victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence
• Engages students in conversations about consent and healthy relationships
• Works with workplaces and community groups to promote prevention
• Strengthens partnerships across Mercer County to improve coordinated responses

Prevention begins long before a crisis. It begins with education, accountability, and cultural change.

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How You Can Take Action

This April, we invite you to:

• Attend a Younity event
• Share educational resources
• Start conversations about consent and respect
• Wear teal in solidarity
• Support victim-survivors in your life
• Make a donation to sustain prevention and counseling services

Every voice matters. Every action counts.

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If You Need Support

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, you are not alone.

Support is available for all victim-survivors of domestic or sexual violence, regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or background.

Together, we are stronger than abuse.

Join Younity for Hometown Heroes Night at the ballpark on Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 pm, as we partner with the Trenton Thunder for a special evening celebrating community, service, and connection.

As part of the Trenton Thunder’s Hometown Heroes program, this night will honor community members whose dedication and service make a meaningful difference close to home. Honorees will be celebrated in front of Thunder fans, including the thrill of throwing out the first pitch of the game. (Those being honored will be announced closer to the game.)

And because it’s a night at the ballpark, expect all the classic favorites — grab a hot dog or soft pretzel, some Cracker Jack, and a drink — along with big cheers and appearances by Cloudman, Boomer, and Slice, bringing extra hometown-hero energy to the stands. It’s an easy, joyful night out for families, supporters, and community members of all ages.

Save the date and plan to join us for a fun and meaningful summer night of baseball, community pride, and celebration.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February) is a time to start honest, age-appropriate conversations about relationships, respect, and safety. The 2026 campaign theme, “Love Shouldn’t Hurt,” reinforces a simple but powerful message: abuse is never a normal or acceptable part of a relationship.

This month focuses on helping teens recognize early warning signs of dating abuse—such as control, manipulation, pressure, jealousy, or isolation—that are often misunderstood or minimized. By building awareness and encouraging open dialogue, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month emphasizes prevention: equipping teens with the tools to trust their instincts, set healthy boundaries, and seek help when something doesn’t feel right.

For parents and caregivers, this month is also an opportunity to listen, ask open-ended questions, and create space for conversations that may not always be easy—but are essential. When trusted adults stay engaged and informed, teens are more likely to speak up, seek guidance, and build relationships grounded in respect, safety, and mutual care.

Together, we can help teens grow into confident adults who understand that healthy relationships are built on trust—not fear.

Every act of generosity has the power to change a life. This Giving Tuesday, your gift to Younity helps ensure that victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence find safety, healing, and hope right here in Mercer County.

Your support funds the lifelines that save lives — the 24-hour hotlines that answer every call, the counselors who guide healing journeys, and the advocates who stand beside victim-survivors in courtrooms and hospitals when they need it most.

When you give, you make sure that no one faces crisis alone. You help a mother and child find refuge in our Safe House, a teen connect with trauma counseling, or a survivor rebuild their life through transitional housing and support.

Together, we can turn one day of giving into lasting change.
Join the movement. Give hope. Change lives.