Standing Together Against Rape
Local Crisis Line 907-276-7273 Statewide Crisis Line 1-800-478-8999 Business Phone: 907-276-7279
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What Is Prevention?
At STAR the word prevention has many levels of meaning, depending on the area of impact. It can be at the individual level, the relationship level, the community level or the societal level.
What can you do to decrease violence at each of these levels?
Individual: Assure children are not exposed to child maltreatment or witness interpersonal violence, support mental health and substance abuse treatment, seek out opportunities for higher education.
Relationship level: Develop at least one primary safe and exclusive intimate relationship, develop healthy communication skills, enhance or seek out positive parenting skills, etc.
Community level: Do not blame victims for the violence, hold perpetrators accountable, challenge attitudes or thoughtless comments that suggest gender inequality, embrace and celebrate diversity, speak up against violence.
Societal level: Challenge traditional gender norms that support violence, question one groups entitlement over another, support groups that seek equality and value each individual regardless of gender, race, age, ethnicity, or religion.
Prevention can refer to either primary prevention (violence does not occur), secondary prevention (immediate response to violence), or tertiary prevention (long term care in the wake of violence). Currently, STAR spends ¾ of our resources (time, funding, and staff) on secondary and tertiary prevention; providing crisis response and long term services to victims of sexual assault. Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault and child sexual abuse in the nation. With this knowledge STAR is committed to working with our partners towards ending sexual violence.
Primary prevention is working to create a world where violence does not happen or where violence is the exception rather than the rule. To that end STAR provides pre-K through 12th grade personal safety curriculum, has introduced the “Green Light” campaign, and is working with male led groups to change community norms that may support domestic violence and sexual assault.
Is there a difference between primary prevention and risk reduction? Sure there is. Risk reduction is steps a person can take to reduce their personal risk; such as the buddy system when you go out or keeping your car doors locked. Risk reduction, however, does not change the intent of a person determined to do harm. Primary prevention is long term, sometimes several generations, and is designed to change thoughts and beliefs that may contribute to a culture of violence, especially by men towards women and children or those perceived as different.
What can you do to decrease violence at each of these levels?
Individual: Assure children are not exposed to child maltreatment or witness interpersonal violence, support mental health and substance abuse treatment, seek out opportunities for higher education.
Relationship level: Develop at least one primary safe and exclusive intimate relationship, develop healthy communication skills, enhance or seek out positive parenting skills, etc.
Community level: Do not blame victims for the violence, hold perpetrators accountable, challenge attitudes or thoughtless comments that suggest gender inequality, embrace and celebrate diversity, speak up against violence.
Societal level: Challenge traditional gender norms that support violence, question one groups entitlement over another, support groups that seek equality and value each individual regardless of gender, race, age, ethnicity, or religion.
Prevention can refer to either primary prevention (violence does not occur), secondary prevention (immediate response to violence), or tertiary prevention (long term care in the wake of violence). Currently, STAR spends ¾ of our resources (time, funding, and staff) on secondary and tertiary prevention; providing crisis response and long term services to victims of sexual assault. Alaska has the highest rate of sexual assault and child sexual abuse in the nation. With this knowledge STAR is committed to working with our partners towards ending sexual violence.
Primary prevention is working to create a world where violence does not happen or where violence is the exception rather than the rule. To that end STAR provides pre-K through 12th grade personal safety curriculum, has introduced the “Green Light” campaign, and is working with male led groups to change community norms that may support domestic violence and sexual assault.
Is there a difference between primary prevention and risk reduction? Sure there is. Risk reduction is steps a person can take to reduce their personal risk; such as the buddy system when you go out or keeping your car doors locked. Risk reduction, however, does not change the intent of a person determined to do harm. Primary prevention is long term, sometimes several generations, and is designed to change thoughts and beliefs that may contribute to a culture of violence, especially by men towards women and children or those perceived as different.
A public service annoucement.