Sexual Violence Prevention in Middle School Communities

Sexual Violence Prevention in Middle School Communities Paula K. Wall Prevent Child Abuse Vermont SAFE-T Coordinator

Objectives: • Gain and understanding of this population and their need for prevention programming. • Explore curricular content and methodology for best practices in prevention programming. (Using SAFE-T as a model program) • Learn approaches to working with schools that have high needs, few resources, and many time constraints.

Why Middle schoolers?

Statistically: Nationally, approximately 50% of Middle School students report having been sexually harassed (1) 50% of boys and 20% of girls who were sexually abused, were abused by a juvenile perpetrator (2)

In Vermont With a population of just over 600,000 we have 322 incidents of child sexual abuse reported (2007 report) Nearly 100 of those cases were PERPETRATED by YOUTH ages 13-19 Nearly 125 VICTIMS were ages 14-19

Developmentally…. This is a time when they are beginning to learn how to perform within their socially influenced gender roles Adolescent boys and girls are developmentally ready for prevention work.

Brain work….

Brain work: • The adolescent brain is still developing, making it accommodating to learning prevention skills: • The prefrontal cortex is still maturing (the part of the brain that helps make judgments and foresees consequences). This is the last part of the brain to mature! • By feeding the adolescent brain prevention skills we can facilitate prevention!

If we change it, prevention can happen What should adolescents be hearing? What should they be doing

Content for Prevention..be on the right path Students will not respond to the typical “chalk and talk” that many prevention curricula offer. A 1997 study showed that highly experiential and interactive curriculum is particularly developmentally appropriate for adolescents (3)

Curricular Content • Exposure to content: • The CDC suggests that : • Sufficient dosage:exposure to enough of the intervention to produce the desired effect (i.e. multiple sessions). Research shows that 7-9 “doses” are needed to affect changes in attitudes and behaviors. • Appropriately timed:strategies are initiated early enough and at the appropriate developmental time to have an impact on the development of positive and negative behaviors

Curricular content.. • We need to focus on prevention education from all perspectives; • VICTIM • BYSTANDER • PERPETRATOR PREVENTION • ADULT PARTICIPATION

Curricular Content • Build school communities • School staff • Administrators, teachers, aides, bus drivers, lunch room staff • Parents • All students parents, not just those involved in the middle school • Community Connections • Reach out to local justice centers, non-profits, shelters,

Working with schools… • How do we do it? • School staff are so busy • Getting people on the phone is difficult • They don’t have time for ONE MORE program

Working with schools • Reinforce that most community resources are FREE • Most agencies are struggling for ways to get into the schools, find a way to partner with them and make the most of your connections

Working with schools… • Discuss ways that prevention can be incorporated into already existing classroom instruction • Health Education • Family and Life Sciences • Physical Education • Guidance time • After school programs

Working with schools • Talk about other prevention skills • Teaching Sexual Abuse Prevention can enhance: • Bullying prevention • Substance abuse prevention • Teen dating violence

QUESTIONS? • Thank You • To reach Prevent Child Abuse Vermont • 1-800-CHILDREN • On the web at www.pcavt.org • By e-mail at pcavt@pcavt.org

Sexual Violence Prevention in Middle School Communities