2016 PRIORITY POLL Prevention priorities from state and territory health departments and sexual violence coalitions The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) seeks feedback from the 60 state and territory sexual assault coalitions and 55 Rape Prevention Education grantees at the state and territory departments of health on prevention priorities in the biannual Priority Poll. Below are the top three priorities related to the prevention of sexual violence. A total of 40 state and territory sexual violence coalitions and health departments participated in the survey Top 3 Prevention Priorities 1. Social norms change 2. Primary prevention 3. Bystander intervention 1. Social norms change Our culture tolerates sexual violence. Social norms allow people who cause harm the ability to act this way. This includes: • Social inequality • Normalized violence • Myths about sexual violence • Blaming victims • Silence about these issues 2. Primary prevention Primary prevention takes place before sexual violence occurs to prevent victimization. The goal of primary prevention efforts is to decrease the number of individuals who commit sexual violence and thus the number of individuals who are victimized. The most common strategies focus on interventions with the victim, the perpetrator, or engaging bystanders. 3. Bystander intervention The goal of bystander intervention is to change social norms supporting sexual violence and empower men and women to intervene to prevent an assault from occurring. Bystander interventions could include: • Naming and stopping situations that could lead to sexual violence, • Stepping in during an incident, • Challenging ideas and behaviors that support sexual violence.4 1National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (n.d.). Preventing sexual violence. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/preventing-sexual-violence 2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). Sexual violence prevention: Beginning the dialogue. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/svprevention-a.pdf3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual violence: Prevention strategies. (June 7, 2016) Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/sexualviolence/prevention.html4National Sexual Violence Resource Center. (2013). Engaging bystanders to prevent sexual violence: Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications_nsvrc_bulletin_engaging-bystanders-prevent-sexual-violence_0.pdf © 2016 National Sexual Violence Resource Center. All Rights Reserved. 877-739-3895 • www.nsvrc.org • resources@nsvrc.org 2016 PRIORITY POLL Research priorities from state and territory health departments and sexual violence coalitions A total of 40 state and territory sexual violence coalitions and health departments participated in the survey The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) seeks feedback from the 60 state and territory sexual assault coalitions and 55 Rape Prevention Education grantees at the state and territory departments of health on research priorities in the biannual Priority Poll. Below are the top three priorities for future research around prevention of sexual violence. Research Priorities 1. Culturally relevant prevention strategies 2. Primary prevention strategies 3. People who commit sexual violence/ Recidivism © 2016 National Sexual Violence Resource Center. All Rights Reserved. 877-739-3895 • www.nsvrc.org • resources@nsvrc.org 2016 PRIORITY POLL Priorities of state and territory sexual violence coalitions Response Rate 52% The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) collects feedback from the 60 state and territory sexual assault coalitions on their priorities in the biannaul Priority Poll. Below are the top five priorities identified by sexual violence coalitions. Priorities 1. Social norms change 2. Access to services for culturally specific, underserved, and unserved populations 3. Trauma-informed care 4. Effectively providing sexual violence services at dual and comprehensive victim service programs 5. Primary prevention © 2016 National Sexual Violence Resource Center. All Rights Reserved. 877-739-3895 • www.nsvrc.org • resources@nsvrc.org