What is Primary Prevention?

​Primary prevention uses the public health model as a guide. Here’s how it works:

People get sick; public health professionals work to determine why and what behavior can change this outcome. It turns out germs are the "why."  So, do we ask that only people with colds change their behavior? No - instead, the public health model looks for solutions that everyone can use to stop the spread of germs: washing your hands, sneezing into your arm, staying home when you’re sick, and more. And everyone is expected to do their part.

To prevent sexual violence: 

• We ask that everyone be an active bystander by standing up to sexual harassment, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, and gender inequality

• In our classroom presentations for grades K-12, we teach youth: how to set physical and emotional boundaries; how to understand and ask for consent; what healthy relationships and communication really looks like; how to recognize and combat gender stereotypes and accepted social norms; and that they can ask for help and support from trusted adults whenever they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. 
  
• With our free curriculum materials, resources, and trainings, we help school counselors and educators integrate personal body safety and violence prevention messaging into their social-emotional or health curriculum. 
• We help schools, businesses, and communities to create policies that promote respect, equality, and accountability because it takes a community to end sexual violence
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How can I help? 

While we provide quality services for survivors of sexual violence throughout the Midcoast, we believe that our services must be partnered with effective prevention programming and strategies in order to change the future out violence in our communities. We believe that primary prevention (which seeks to end sexual violence before it begins) is the answer to preventing and ending sexual violence.

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