The Wyoming Injury & Violence Prevention Program

The mission of the Wyoming Injury & Violence Prevention Program is to coordinate state and local efforts to prevent unintentional and intentional injury and violence through public awareness, training, and system change.

Contact Info:

122 West 25th Street, 3rd Floor West

Cheyenne, WY 82002

wdh.prevention@wyo.gov

Please note: The Wyoming Injury and Violence Prevention Program does not offer crisis counseling or emergency services.

Sexual Violence Prevention

Program Overview

The Wyoming Injury and Violence Prevention Program supports the prevention of sexual violence in Wyoming through two federal funding programs:

The Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program

The RPE Program is a federally funded program intended to prevent sexual violence victimization and perpetration through education and strengthening community supports, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The RPE Program uses a public health approach to implement and evaluate identified sexual violence primary prevention strategies based on the best available evidence at all levels of the Social Ecological Model (SEM). This work is accomplished in collaboration with the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (WCADVSA).

The Public Health and Human Services Block Grant (PHHSBG) Program

A portion of Wyoming’s PHHSBG funding from the CDC is dedicated to sexual violence prevention and response. This work is currently accomplished through the Be the Solution primary prevention media campaign, and supporting a sexual assault healing services learning collaborative facilitated by the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Program Offerings

The Wyoming Injury and Violence Prevention Program can provide the following to communities throughout Wyoming:

  • Training, technical assistance, and funding for local communities to implement community projects to address sexual violence risk factors. Communities complete three years of focused work based on the Collective Impact framework.  
  • Training and technical assistance for local communities interested in implementing Coaching Boys into Men (CBIM) and Athletes as Leaders (AAL).  CBIM and AAL are evidence-based and evidence-informed curricula delivered by middle and high school athletic coaches intended to increase knowledge of healthy relationships. 
  • Facilitation of the College Sexual Violence Prevention Team (CPT).  The CPT works with all Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming to provide education and technical assistance on the prevention requirements of Title IX and sexual violence prevention in the college communities. 
  • Promotion of the Wyoming “Be the Solution” media campaign.  “Be the Solution” was developed to raise awareness about and prevention of sexual violence in Wyoming communities. 
  • Training and technical assistance for local communities and organizations on prevention of sexual violence. 

To view sexual violence indicators that may be helpful for local prevention efforts and decision making, see the Wyoming Rape Prevention and Education Program Indicator Dashboard.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact, ranging from sexist attitudes and actions to rape and murder. Sexual violence can include words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will. An offender might also use force, threats, manipulation, or coercion to commit sexual violence.

There is a social context that surrounds sexual violence. Social norms that promote violence, using power over others, unhealthy concepts about masculinity, the subjugation of women, and silence about violence and abuse contribute to the occurrence of sexual violence.

Oppression in all of its forms is among the root causes of sexual violence. Sexual violence is preventable through collaborations of community members at multiple levels of society: homes, neighborhoods, schools, faith settings, workplaces, and other settings. We all play a role in preventing sexual violence and establishing norms of respect, safety, equality, and helping others.

What is consent?

Consent is freely agreeing to do something. In this section of the booklet we will look at what it means to:

  • Consent to sex;
  • Not consent to sex;
  • Not have the capacity to consent to sex;
  • Give consent and then withdraw it.

If you are unsure about these issues you can call a lawyer for some free legal advice or speak to a sexual assault counsellor.

Consenting to have sex or sexual contact means:

  • No one pressuring you;
  • No one forcing you;
  • No one threatening you or threatening someone or something you love;
  • You want to have sex and have not changed your mind;
  • You have the ability to stop when you want;
  • You are 16 years or older;
  • You are awake and conscious;
  • You are not overly affected by alcohol or drugs;
  • You do not have a cognitive impairment that affects your ability to consent;
  • The person you have sex with has not lied about their identity or led you to believe they were someone else.

Wyoming Specific Resources

 

Do you or someone you know need help?