With funding from the Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF), Prevention Institute launched Safety Through Connection in 2018, a program that supports community-based groups in preventing intimate partner violence (IPV). The program includes organizations that work on other issues—from nutrition and physical activity to worker rights to mental health—to become leaders in preventing IPV and promoting safe relationships.

“We recognize that poor health and domestic violence are driven by many social forces that are influenced by sectors outside of domestic violence or health. As a result, we’re focusing on how these different sectors can collaborate with community to advance health, wellbeing, and safe relationships” said Carolyn Wang Kong, chief program director at the Blue Shield of California Foundation.

The five collaboratives participating in the program are:

  • Center at McKinleyville (McKinleyville)
  • Allies Against Violence (Oakland)
  • Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas (Fresno)
  • LA Worker Center Network (Los Angeles)
  • East African Men and Boys Collaborative (San Diego)

In 2018, Prevention Institute awarded grants to five established multisector collaboratives whose work centered on community issues other than IPV. Each of the five collaboratives learned about IPV and prevention strategies, conducted community assessments, and broadened their engagement of local organizations. Between November 2019 and October 2021, the collaboratives continue this important work and begin initial implementation of IPV prevention strategies that build on their existing strengths and assets.

Safety Through Connection is a learning program that will help increase understanding of how existing community collaboratives can enhance their capacity and partnerships, and implement, evaluate, and sustain IPV prevention as a priority within a broader community agenda. After the first year of the program, collaboratives indicated in a survey that they increased their understanding of IPV in the community, had more concrete ideas of how they can contribute to IPV prevention, and were more connected to others in the state working on IPV prevention compared to before their participation. Over 95% reported that participating in Safety Through Connection has strengthened their collaborative.

Additionally, Prevention Institute links these five collaboratives to Blue Shield of California Foundation’s Leveraging Collaboration to End Domestic Violence initiative. This is a group of six new collaboratives led by domestic violence organizations who are advancing prevention from within the domestic violence field and partnering with others outside of the field. Together, these two groups will provide valuable insights into how power, systems, community, and collaboration can come together to prevent violence in communities. The “within and beyond” approach allows us to learn about the how to create change across multiple systems, while unifying diverse efforts toward the shared goal of ending violence.

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.

April 15, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic has a new victim: undocumented women in abusive relationships (Fresno Bee op-ed by Veva Islas, Mujeres Poderosas Amorosas Collaborative)​

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 15, 2019: ABC’s of your Health: Local non-profit to work on community-based approaches to preventing domestic violence among immigrants Latinas living in Fresno County

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

 

Please direct all questions related to this program to Program Assistant Abena Asare, abena@preventioninstitute.org.