Sexual Violence Prevention

What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence is sexual activity when consent is not obtained or freely given. It is a serious public health problem in the United States. It affects all people regardless of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or race. 

The perpetrator of sexual violence is usually someone the survivor knows. This can include a friend, current or former intimate partner, coworker, neighbor, or family member. 

Sexual violence can occur in person, online, or through technology. This includes posting or sharing sexual pictures of someone without their consent, or non-consensual sexting.  Types of sexual violence include: sexual harassment, sexual assault, voyeurism, rape, and unwanted touching.

What is DPH Doing to Prevent Sexual Violence?

The Georgia Sexual Violence Prevention Program (GA-SVPP), part of the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Chronic Disease Prevention Section (CDPS), is dedicated to preventing sexual violence before it occurs. The program employs both individual and community-level strategies to identify risk and protective factors, as well as to address the social determinants of health affecting sexual violence. Sexual violence is widely recognized for its detrimental effects on community safety, physical and emotional well-being, and the perpetuation of harmful gender and cultural norms. By focusing on the individual and community-level strategies GA-SVPP can decrease adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and improve health outcomes, including chronic conditions, in Georgia.

Individual Level Programming for Youth: 

Youth serving programs designed to educate students about teen dating violence and healthy relationships. These programs empower and engage young people to help them understand sexual bullying, and identify safe, trusted adults to reduce risk. The following programs are offered:

  • Athletes as Leaders
  • Coaching Boys into Men
  • Step Up. Step In.

Community Level Programming: 

Prevention education trainings and workshops provided to community members that focus on skill building for sexual violence prevention.

Sexual assault centers partner with GA-SVPP to facilitate trainings and workshops for at-risk communities on ways to strengthen economic support and connect communities to local resources.

GA-SVPP support community level taskforces in at-risk areas. These taskforces focus on trainings and workshops to create protective environments in one of the following categories: 

  • Improve School Climate and Safety
  • Improve Organizational Environments
  • Reduce Exposure to Community Level Risk
  • Modify the Physical and Social Environment

Sexual Violence is preventable. It starts with you. To learn more about our programming, please contact: [email protected].

 

Page updated 10/3/2024