Community Violence Solutions (CVS) has been providing a wide range of services to child and adult victims of sexual assault and their families since 1974. Our Prevention Services program reflects our strong commitment to taking a proactive stance towards violence. Through outreach efforts to schools and community organizations, our Prevention Educators raise awareness of the issues of sexual violence, identify the root cause of violence in our culture, and teach skills aimed at preventing sexual assault and harassment.
Our curricula are all age appropriate and designed to engage youth in a way that educates and empowers them. With the goal of sexual violence prevention in mind, our educators teach youth the importance of communication, boundaries, respect, and consent. Our educators are passionate about their work and have a combined 15 years working with Bay Area communities.
In the Schools
Elementary: The CVS five-module, Bullying and Touching Safety Program, uses Second Step Curriculum to teach 1st, 3rd and 5th graders to identify feelings, learn assertiveness, understand the touching safety rule, and how to report if someone breaks the safety rule. Fifth grade students get an introduction to Sexual Harassment.
Middle School: A six-module Bullying and Violence Prevention Program using Second Step: Stepping In. Students learn to use assertive communication, how to respond to bullying and cyber bullying, and how to manage their emotions. Students are introduced to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking.
Middle School: Not A Number a five-module curriculum designed to address factors associated with Human Trafficking and Exploitation
High School: A Call to Men is a nine-module program designed to develop leadership abilities among male club members; to reclaim the concept of strength as non-violent; and to develop in group members the skills to move from a by-stander to harassment or violence to one who can become an ally to young women. Our program provides young men with a safe space to analyze the messages they receive concerning traditional masculinity, and how these concepts can promote violence among men and between young men and women.
High School: Young Women’s Empowerment Circle is a 12-module program that reviews healthy and unhealthy relationships, healthy coping skills, healthy communication, oppression, gender roles, body image, setting boundaries, sexual relationships, sexual assault, healing and self-care.
High School: In Touch with Teens is an 11-module program that promotes healthy relationships, social skills, bystander intervention, and effective communication.
High School: Not A Number a five-module curriculum designed to address factors associated with Human Trafficking and Exploitation
Brave Week: CVS offers a weeklong, school-wide campaign for elementary, middle and high schools, in line with nationwide awareness campaigns: Human Trafficking Awareness month in January, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in April, and Bullying Awareness Month in October. Teachers, staff, parents and students learn better ways of being bystanders, educators prepare age-appropriate activities for students to perform in the classroom, and teachers receive information pertaining to SAAM. Educators also conduct lunchtime activities and send information to parents with activities to practice with their children at home.
One Time Presentations
Classroom presentations include both male and female students and are highly interactive and engaging for middle and high schools as well as colleges. Presentations are designed to provide important information about sexual assault and dating violence and to promote healthy relationships. Our prevention presentations are offered in kind and come at no cost to the school or agency.
One Hour Workshops Include:
Community Education: A thorough breakdown of CVS’s many services. Discover all that your local rape crisis center has to offer!
Sexual Harassment (SH): Define and identify types of sexual harassment, the impact it has on individuals and the community, how to protect yourself, school policies and reporting, alternative methods to dealing with SH, healthy communication, prevention strategies, flirting and SH, mutual respect, and SH within the LGBTQ community.
Sexual Assault (SA): Define sexual assault and dispel common myths; understand the SA statistics, consent and force, what contributes to SA, what to do after an assault, and how students can work to decrease sexual assault in their communities.
Human Trafficking 101 (HT): Learn the warning signs, red flags, definitions, statistics, and policies. This presentation breaks down the global phenomenon and explains the various forms in which HT presents itself and how society contributes to a human trafficking culture.
Women’s Self Defense: Our assertiveness and self-defense classes are taught by women so that participants see the techniques being modeled by someone like them. The class is designed for women of all ages, body types, and ability levels. Each participant will have the opportunity to practice the moves on a target pad.