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About the Education and Training Department

The Center’s Prevention and Community Education Programs see violence as a continuum of behaviors instead of single, isolated event.  Violence is not inevitable and can be prevented by making changes to social norms.  The key to our comprehensive strategy to prevent violence is our primary prevention work focusing on youth and youth development utilizing the ecological model framework.  The following is a list of key terms and concepts used to understand our prevention philosophy, as well as concepts taught throughout our prevention and community education programs.

Cultural competency is of upmost importance to The Center for Violence-free Relationships. All of our prevention and community education programs are tailored to fit the audience’s needs.  We are sensitive and committed to making sure that every individual’s learning and living style and/or primary language is accommodated.

Primary Prevention – involves developing comprehensive strategies BEFORE the violence occurs to PREVENT initial perpetration or victimization.  Over the last 30 years, most violence prevention efforts have been AFTER the violence has occurred dealing with short-term or lasting consequences of violence.

Ecological Model – A comprehensive model applied to violence prevention by those in the public health field that explains the occurrence of violence and helps identify potential prevention strategies on four levels (Individual, relationship, community, and societal).  The Center’s prevention strategies operate on multiple levels simultaneously.

Changing Social Norms – Research shows that peer pressure is the primary influencing on shaping people’s behavior, especially adolescents.  Many behaviors are influenced by incorrect perceptions of how peers think and act.  As part of our prevention education programs, we correct these misperceptions with the result of increasing healthy behaviors and community change.

Bystander Intervention Approach – Everyone is a bystander.  Bystanders are community members who may witness situations that are at high risk for violence or early signs of inappropriate behaviors.  Our prevention programs offer tools on empowering bystanders to take a more proactive role to recognize and stop violence before it happens.

Youth Development – The Center considers youth to be assets and resources in their communities that need nurturing and development through safe and supportive environments.  The Center’s Prevention Programs engage youth at all levels to become active participants in our programs and throughout their communities.

Concepts Taught