Domestic Violence Prevention & Awareness

October is nationally observed as Domestic Violence Prevention & Awareness Month. This is an intentional time for educators and advocates to connect with their communities, with several clear goals in mind:

• Increase awareness of how we can identify when domestic violence, and other forms of relationship abuse, are occurring.
• Build confidence, through education, on how to be an active bystander who stops an act of violence from occurring, or a trauma-informed supporter who helps someone who has been impacted.
• Acknowledge that domestic violence is intersectional in its relationship to systems, identity & protected class, and other public health concerns, such as mental health, substance misuse, and risk for developing physical health problems.

The Violence Awareness & Response Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, recognizes that our students, colleagues, and alums may have been impacted by domestic violence, or may simply want to learn more about how we are doing our part to maintain campus safety. Our Domestic Violence Prevention & Awareness Month programming includes different ways to access information and engage, based on personal comfort levels and time commitments. See our full calendar of events here.

If you are interested in learning more about the Violence Awareness & Response Program, please contact Dr. Denise Crisafi (Director) and Coumba Soumare (Graduate Assistant). The Violence Awareness & Response Program provides confidential advocacy for students & colleagues impacted by sexual violence and relationship abuse, as well prevention education workshops that can be requested for free by our campus community.