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In a significant step towards creating safer communities, Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and Jana's Campaign are proud to announce their partnership in addressing and preventing sexual violence in Kansas.
This collaborative effort, supported by the Sexual Violence Prevention and Education grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, aims to implement comprehensive education and prevention strategies in Thomas, Ellis, and Russell counties.
Community Needs Assessment: Laying the Groundwork
Jana's Campaign, a national education organization dedicated to preventing gender and relationship violence, is leading the charge in conducting a thorough community needs assessment survey. This essential initiative, led by Jana’s Campaign staff, will gather data from residents in Ellis, Thomas, and Russell counties.
The insights gained from this survey will provide a detailed understanding of the current landscape of sexual violence in these communities and guide the development of tailored prevention strategies.
"Our goal is to understand the unique needs of each community we serve," shared Whitney Gerstner, operations manager at Jana’s Campaign. “By collecting and analyzing this data, we can better tailor our prevention efforts to make a sustainable impact."
The Quality of Life survey will be distributed across all three counties later this fall. “We encourage all community members to take 10-15 minutes to complete the survey, as it will help our organizations identify where to concentrate our prevention education efforts on sexual violence. Your participation in this survey could make a life-saving difference in our communities,” said Larissa Whitney, Jana’s Campaign education and preventionspecialist.
Building Support Systems: Sexual Assault Response Teams
Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, a regional advocacy organization for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, is focusing on enhancing support systems in Russell and Thomas counties.
Anniston Weber, the campus advocate for Options, is spearheading the establishment of Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) in these areas. These teams will ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response to sexual assault, providing survivors with the resources and support they need while also working to hold offenders accountable.
Ellis County already benefits from an established SART, which will play a pivotal role in implementing the changes and improvements outlined in the new grant project. The collaborative effort between the counties is designed to create a seamless network of support for survivors across the region.
"Our established SART in Ellis County has been instrumental in providing immediate and compassionate support to survivors of sexual violence," said Weber. "We are excited to extend this model to Russell and Thomas counties, ensuring that more individuals have access to these critical resources and community collaborations."
Focused Prevention Efforts: Safe Bar Alliance and Workplace Trainings
Education and training are at the heart of this collaborative effort. Options is expanding its Safe Bar Alliance training, a program designed to educate bar staff and patrons on recognizing and preventing sexual violence in nightlife settings. Simultaneously, Jana's Campaign will further implement workplace trainings to cultivate safer and more respectful workplaces. This program is designed to equip employers and employees with the knowledge, polices, and procedures needed to better prevent sexual violence before it occurs.
"Preventing sexual violence requires a community-wide effort," said Kaiti Blackburn, Jana’s Campaign executive director. “By offering targeted training programs, we can equip individuals and organizations with the tools they need to make real, sustainable change."
Shared Goals: A Unified Approach to Prevention
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to reduce sexual violence in Thomas, Ellis, and Russell counties by implementing effective education and prevention strategies. By combining their strengths and resources, Options and Jana's Campaign are poised to make a significant impact. Through community engagement, support system enhancement, and targeted education efforts, they are working towards a future where every individual can live free from the threat of sexual violence.
Together, these organizations are setting a powerful example of how collaboration and community-driven initiatives can drive meaningful change. Their efforts aim not only to reduce incidents of sexual violence but also to build a culture of respect and safety that benefits everyone.
"This partnership goes beyond addressing the symptoms of sexual violence," said Weber. “By equipping our communities with the right tools and knowledge, we're creating an environment where everyone plays a role in making our home a better place."
Stay tuned for more updates on this important work and find out how you can get involved in making our communities safer for all.
For more information, or if you are interested in being involved in the Russell or Thomas County SART, please contact:
· Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
Contact: Anniston Weber
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 785-625-4202
· Jana's Campaign
Contact: Kaiti Blackburn
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 785-656-0324