New PI, PreventConnect report highlights real-world examples of collaborative action 

Sexual and domestic violence are linked, to each other and to other forms of violence. To help prevent them, we must expand partnerships across health and safety issues, sectors, and social justice movements to address underlying factors. A new report by Prevention Institute and PreventConnect explores how to do this, drawing on the rich expertise and experience shared in the 2016 PreventConnect web conference series. View the report here and check out the blog and podcast based on the report.

The report describes the evolving field of sexual and domestic violence prevention, and summarizes key findings, examples of innovative work, and resources from each of the nine web conferences. From strategies to address multiple forms of violence and community trauma to exploring alliance-building with social justice movements, such as economic justice and immigration reform, the report highlights real-world examples of quality prevention and ideas for collaborative action. 

The following five themes illustrate the progression of the field, as reflected in the 2016 PreventConnect web conference series:

1. A growing number of practitioners are focusing on inequities in sexual and domestic violence.
2. Sexual and domestic violence prevention practitioners are increasingly working across multiple forms of violence and trauma.
3. Practitioners are addressing underlying factors that can reduce levels of sexual and domestic violence, bringing together feminism and public health.
4. The field’s enduring commitment to community partnerships and empowerment is foundational to preventing sexual and domestic violence.
5. The field is recognizing that alignment with social justice movements and other sectors is critical to bring together diverse perspectives, mobilize new approaches, and achieve shared goals.

Sexual and domestic violence are increasingly visible problems in the public discourse – from risk factors to the impacts on victims and communities, and the connections between these and other forms of violence. For example, domestic violence is at the center of many mass shootings, and violence against intimate partners too often is unheeded as a harbinger of more violence against others. The tireless efforts of practitioners, researchers, and advocates have strengthened our understanding of prevention and the need to engage diverse partners in addressing sexual and domestic violence. For more details on their lessons and activities, we encourage you to download the full report  and share it with your colleagues.

Since 2005, Prevention Institute has partnered with the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA)/PreventConnect to bring together a community of practice on the leading edge of preventing sexual and domestic violence. Highly interactive PreventConnect web conferences have strengthened practitioners’ and advocates’ knowledge and bolstered the capacity of local, state, territorial, national, and tribal agencies and organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate effective prevention initiatives. Each year a series of web conferences is organized around a theme that captures critical areas of growth and opportunity in the field.