Safety Through Connection is a California program launched in 2018 with support from Blue Shield of California Foundation to sustain and grow collaborative community-driven, place-based, culture and systems change for health equity, safe relationships, and prevention of domestic violence (DV) (also referred to as intimate partner violence, relationship violence, and other terms). Safety Through Connection is a learning program designed to increase understanding of how existing community collaboratives can enhance their capacity and partnerships and implement, evaluate, and sustain DV prevention as a priority within a broader community agenda.
Currently, three collaboratives are building on their community and collaborative strengths to engage community members, nurture courageous and sustainable leadership, build collective power, and influence culture, systems, and policies that address the root causes of domestic violence (DV). The three collaboratives are:
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The Center at McKinleyville, led by the McKinleyville Family Resource Center
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Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas, led by Cultiva La Salud
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The East African Youth Collaborative, led by United Women of East Africa
After the first year of the program, collaboratives indicated in a survey that they increased their understanding of DV in the community, had more concrete ideas of how they can contribute to DV prevention, and were more connected to others in the state working on DV prevention compared to before their participation. Over 95% of those surveyed reported that participating in Safety Through Connection strengthened their collaborative. Since the initial planning year, the three collaboratives have been influencing the underlying contributors to DV and other health inequities and creating community environments that support health equity and safe relationships through multiple strategies.
The program is stewarded by Prevention Institute with funding from Blue Shield of California Foundation and evaluation services by Strategic Prevention Solutions. Prevention Institute, Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF), and Strategic Prevention Solutions also participate in the Learning Community as co-learners who are practicing sharing power and playing specific supporting roles in the program.
More information about this program
Safety Through Connection in the Media
November 16, 2020: Commentary: Refugees in San Diego are struggling with pandemic challenges. We know, we surveyed them.
October 30, 2019: Safety Through Connection, Part Two: Imagine a world without intimate partner violence
October 29, 2019: Safety Through Connection, Part One: From McKinleyville to San Diego, five communities redefine intimate partner violence prevention
March 14, 2019: An Expanded Strategy For Breaking The Cycle Of Domestic Violence
February 25, 2019: Safety Through Connection: Interviews with Community Leaders Podcast
December 4, 2018: KVPR’s Valley Edition radio interview with Genoveva Islas of Cultiva La Salud
November 26, 2018: California Health Report: New Initiative Encourages Community-Generated Efforts to Prevent Domestic Violence
Safety Through Connection Profiles, Presentations, and Podcasts
September 9, 2021: Presentation featuring McKinleyville Family Resource Center, PreventConnect web conference, Walking in balance with all our relations: Leadership from and partnerships with Indigenous communities to end gender-based violence and restore wellbeing.
November 21, 2019: Presentation about Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas, PreventConnect web conference, Culture-change for Prevention: Advancing Prevention Within and Beyond the Sexual and Domestic Violence Field
November 21, 2019: Podcast about Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas, Culture-change for Prevention: Beyond the Field with Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas
November 21, 2019: Written profile about Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas, Culture-Change as a Domestic Violence Prevention Strategy in Fresno County, California
Please direct all questions related to this program to Associate Program Director, Lisa Fujie Parks at Lisa@preventioninstitute.org