Oral

Teen dating and sexual violence poses a serious public health problem due to the mental and physical health burdens placed on the victim. This session presents new data on the frequency of dating and sexual violence in 26 Kentucky high schools along the continuum of sexual violence, from sexual harassment to forced sexual intercourse. This session then presents descriptions and evaluation findings from two primary prevention interventions to change cultural norms and prevent violence among students. The first intervention, termed “Green Dot” acknowledges that while most students neither participate in nor condone violence, many respond passively to a culture that may tacitly support violence. Results of the evaluation of the intervention on social norms and bystanding behaviors are presented. The second project evaluated an innovative intervention to reduce dating and sexual violence entitled "Changing Carolina", a class that engages students as active change agents in preventing violence.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the continuum of dating and sexual violence and the frequency of dating and sexual violence along that continuum in 26 Kentucky high schools. 2. Describe two promising interventions to reduce violence against women in college settings. 3. Analyze the findings of these two interventions.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)