TAKEN FROM:
Dills J, Fowler D, Payne G. Sexual Violence on Campus: Strategies for Prevention. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016.
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Partner with community organizations and rape crisis centers
Collaborating with community-based rape crisis centers can ensure coordination of sexual violence prevention strategies in the community and on campus. In addition to rape crisis centers, other community organizations with which to partner include local law enforcement, organizations that serve the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community, victim service centers, legal aid, social services, health centers, and domestic violence shelters.
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Employ a multi-sector approach
It takes multiple perspectives and areas of expertise to address a complicated health and safety issue like sexual violence. A campus community is already made up of multiple disciplines and sectors which can be leveraged to create prevention-focused community response teams.
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Pair THE GRAY with other sexual assault prevention programming
Activities across the social ecology can complement and reinforce each other. For example, a bystander intervention program could be supported by a policy that mandates that incoming freshman receive training on sexual assault prevention resources. However, it is best to not limit prevention to one type of activity – this play was designed to pair with a discussion and other prevention efforts.
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Use a trauma-informed approach
Ensure that programming for prevention and response is survivor-centered and trauma-informed. While prevention programming doesn’t target survivors specifically, survivors will be in the audience. This means prevention efforts should strive to support survivors’ needs, avoid victim blaming, and not re-traumatize a survivor. For example, sufficient reporting structures and well-trained staff within campus conduct boards/panels are needed to promote and improve reporting and response processes. Survivors should be made to feel supported and connected to resources on campus and in the community.
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Embrace a gender equity perspective
Prevention strategies can use a gender equity perspective, where males and females are treated fairly and similarly, and work to promote healthy sexuality and healthy intimate relationships on campuses. Additionally, strategies to address gender violence should be intersectional (working to disrupt multiple systems of oppression like sexism, racism, and homophobia) and include individuals and survivors who identify across the spectrum of gender identities that includes, but is not limited to male, female, transgender, and queer.
