In December we initiated our prevention program. We hired a prevention officer who is responsible for the offender treatment program. This enabled us to provide intervention to the entire family unit with anticipated results of preventing repeat offences once identified and referred. Education is an important aspect of preventing the sexual abuse of children and adults. It increases the understanding and awareness by our young people of issues related to sexual violence.
Prevention occurs in two stages.
The first stage is the dissemination of information of factual information and the development of skills to avoid or resist approach by an offender. This process also includes education about what to do and who to contact if an assault has taken place. Long term goals is directed towards community change directed at the root causes for such abuse to occur. There needs to be a focus on the attitudes and the practices that may support and encourage violence against especially our young people , women and the elderly. Our plan is to be able to hire a youth outreach worker that will start to network with school officials.