Operation Care's advocate Candice Jayne stands next to the "Human Ribbon" Ashley Linerud, as they prepare for their trek through Amador County to raise awareness about sexual assault prevention. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

On April 8, a teal-colored "Human Ribbon" will be making the rounds in Amador County, encouraging the community to take action toward building healthy and respectful relationships.

Watch for her in Jackson, Sutter Creek, Pine Grove, Pioneer, Ione, Plymouth, and other locations throughout the county. The Human Ribbon will be accompanied by an advocate from Operation Care to answer questions and ask people to take action and speak out against sexual violence. They will be handing out teal ribbons to tie on car antennas to show your support.

April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. In Amador County alone, 29 rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2007. This does not account for rapes that went unreported.

Operation Care provides hospital response, advocacy, accompaniment, and peer counseling for survivors.

For more information, call Operation Care at 223-2897. If you or someone you know needs help, call 911 or call the 24-hour crisis line at 223-2600 or (800) 675-3392 to talk to a counselor.