Men Against Violence Program, University of Pittsburg in Kansas, Pittsburg, KS

Men Against Violence Program, University of Pittsburg in Kansas, Pittsburg, KS
Contact Name: Julie Allison
Phone Number: (620) 235-4529
E-mail: jallison@pittstate.edu
Key Words: (1) Mixed gender and male only; (2) college, high school, and middle school age; (3) primarily rural and white population; (4) university, high school, and middle school setting; (5) one-time workshop
Population served
Program participants include college students, high school students, and middle school students. There are male-focused activities, with some diversity among participants. Pittsburg has an 11 percent Hispanic population.
Medium used to convey message
The Men Against Violence Program works closely with the Sexual Assault Response Team to provide both advocacy and education on the issues of violence against women. Educational programming includes workshops for students and community members. The program includes breakout sessions with gender-exclusive groups that focus on rape myths, legal issues, motivation for sexual assault, men’s positions of power, the socialization process, homophobia, red flags for violence, intimate violence, and what can be done as individuals and as a group. Staff hold an annual White Ribbon Campaign and are also beginning a media campaign and a social norms campaign.
Goals, objectives, and desired outcomes
The program has several goals:* to provide education on sexual violence prevention

to help participants become role models for other men and boys
to help participants become willing to encourage others to take a stand against sexual violence
to conduct training with staff in victim awareness

Theoretical/ scientific basis for the approach
This program is based on the work of Chris Kilmartin, Don McPherson, and Alan Berkowitz.
Level of evaluation
Program evaluation demonstrates very positive reactions from participants. Pretesting has been conducted using a rape myth acceptance scale and a social norms assessment. Post-testing has not yet been conducted but is planned in order to assess long-term effects of the educational programming.
Staff capacity
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