Tuesday, April 13, 2021
This month, take a moment to raise public awareness about sexual violence and how to prevent it. The youth in Wisconsin schools deserve safe school communities in which to grow and thrive. However, on the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), nearly one in five students (19.9%) in Wisconsin reported that at least once in their lives, someone had forced them to do sexual things they did not want to do. Experiences of sexual assault or coercion were more common among certain groups, including students who are LGBT (43.4%), students with physical disabilities or chronic health conditions (31.1%), and students facing food insecurity (28.8%).
School staff have the power to reduce and respond to sexual violence. Schools can train students and adults on students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities under Wisconsin’s pupil non-discrimination law and the federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which protects students from sexual harassment, including sexual violence, while at school.
Additionally, staff can build relationships with and amongst students, to further the feeling of belonging and support. Promoting a culturally responsive trauma-sensitive approach with survivors of sexual violence, connecting survivors to advocates, and forming collaborations with local Sexual Assault Service Providers (SASPs) are other ways school staff can facilitate best outcomes. It is the responsibility of everyone in the school community to stand up and speak out against sexual violence, and to work towards shifting the culture and attitudes that allow sexual violence to proliferate.
Check out the resources to assist schools, including: