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Prevention Basics

We have the power within us to create the world anew. We can begin by doing small things at the local level, like planting community gardens or looking out for our neighbors. That is how change takes place in living systems: not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.

Grace Lee Boggs

Section one: getting our bearings

New to violence prevention? Check out our Prevention 101 resource!

The approach: The horizon point – Where we’re headed – Three things to read

  1. Building Beloved Community: Facilitator Guide – Transforming Communities
    • While a Facilitator’s Guide is designed to lead conversations within our organizations or communities, the information is valuable for understanding the importance of working in and with community to create the community we want. This must inform the context for our prevention work.
  2. What Seeds Are We Planting, Resonance Network
  3. Liberatory Power: From Cyndi Suarez’s “The Power Manual

Section two: laying the foundation

Three things to read

  1. Fostering Community Resilience: Virginia’s Guidelines for the Primary Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence“, Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance 2022
  2. Applying The Principles of Prevention: What Do Prevention Practitioners Need to Know About What Works?”, Maury Nation, Dana Keener, Abraham Wandersman & David DuBois 2005
  3. School Based Prevention Roadmap,OAESV and FCASV

Three things to listen to & watch

Widen the Screen

The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter even by a millimeter, the way a person looks or people look at reality, then you can change it.

James Baldwin
#RaceAnd: Femicide

“Violence against Indigenous women, femmes, queer folks is connected with the struggle to defend Mother Earth.” – Ya’at’eeh! Siihasin (Hope)

This conversation among organizers and leaders addresses gendered and racialized violence in our communities: from the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous and Black women, to targeted attacks against Asian women, to ongoing violence against trans and gender non-conforming people, to the trafficking of immigrant women.

Section three: taking action

Three things to practice

  1. First read “The Productivity Paradox” from Move To End Violence
  2. The Innovation Lab” from the Resonance Network
  3. Mindfulness Resources from the Domestic Violence & Mental Health Collaboration Project at Coalition Ending Gender Based Violence

Three things to participate in

  1. Refuse To Abuse® 5K
  2. Race Forward Conference
  3. WSCADV Prevention Retreat

Three resources to have

  1. In Their Shoes: Teens and Dating Violence
  2. Friends and Family Guide
  3. How’s Your Relationship

Three organizations to follow

  1. Virginia Action Alliance
  2.  Scarleteen
  3. PreventConnect

Section four: working with teens

Do In Their Shoes: Teens and Dating Violence in your community.

Get clear on serving teens and mandated reporting

drawing of a toolbox with words "Picture of Prevention" and drawings of tools and spokes with the words "Resilience, Strength, Trust, Empathy" and a clipboard with the text "Washington State Domestic Violence Programs engage in community and school-based prevention activities by addressing root causes, shifting culture, building skills, and promoting healthy relationships. Prevention work thrives when communities and schools are engaged in ways that fit within their culture and community context and center the positive relationships with youth and other allies."