ERIN TALK: In-School Sexual Assault Prevention Program
E.R.I.N. Talk trains and deploys skilled facilitators to lead primary sexual assault prevention restorative circles in Baltimore city middle schools.
This signature program with the University of Maryland’s Carey Law School uses a restorative justice framework to engage middle school students in educational activities that help them identify, question, and reject the destructive ideas that give rise to sexual violence.
ERIN Talk Program Goals:
- Prevent peer-to-peer sexual harm among youth by addressing attitudes and behaviors that facilitate sexual assault
- Increase parent/caregiver understanding of sexual harassment and assault
- Improve the ability of school staff to recognize and respond appropriately to sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Address incidents of sexual harm when they occur in schools
Erin Talk is delivered in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore Carey School of Law and School of Social Work
Project Status: Curriculum complete. Program active in two middle schools
Next Step: Program evaluation and measurement (Fall 2022)
Every Body Talk: A protective children’s book about boundaries
In this book, children will learn protective lessons, like calling their genitals by their anatomical names (that alone is proven to help protect children!) They also have the chance to identify trusted adults they can always talk to about their bodies!
Every Body Talk is an inclusive and trauma-informed children’s book families can use to start conversations about keeping bodies safe. The book walks through language children and guardians can use to communicate about topics that can be tough.
Every Body Talk Goals:
- Portray healthy gender norms
- Showcase examples of healthy modeling and healthy relationships
- Support the creation of protective environments, like those promoted in the book
Project Status: Book published and available for purchase and donation.
Next Step: Find funding to create programs that facilitate easy book discussion between caretakers and children
Teacher Talk: A sexual harassment training for adults who work with children
Teacher Talk is a virtual training to help professionals identify and respond to sexual harassment. Because we know sexual harassment can be a precursor to sexual violence, we’re providing resources so for intervention. Sexual harassment happens. By giving educators the opportunity to learn how to respond to it, we’re it less likely that sexual harassment escalates to sexual harm.
Teacher Talk Goals:
- Provide information about the prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual violence and its impact on young people
- Give educators direct intervention and prevention strategies
- Participants are able to identify and respond to sexual harassment
Teacher Talk is delivered in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore Carey School of Law and School of Social Work
Project Status: Content complete and loaded into LearnDash software
Next Step: Run pilot program and collect feedback for final rollout
Parent Talk: A suite of tools to help caregivers start early protective conversations
Still in its early stages of development, Parent Talk is an education campaign aimed at parents and caregivers.
Parent Talk Goals:
- Holistically affect change in children’s lives by educating the adults they interact with
- Teach parents and caregivers about protective and risk factors of sexual assault perpetration and victimization.
- Give parents strategies for having conversations with children that will help keep them safe.
Parent Talk is delivered in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore Carey School of Law and School of Social Work
Project Status: Logic model and theory of change completed by University of Maryland Baltimore
Next Step: Put together focus groups to discuss delivery methods
Let’s Talk About It: Online Education
Let’s Talk About It is the general name for online programming and educational initiatives led by the Erin Levitas Foundation team. These programs encompass webinars, monthly education campaigns, and more.
Lets Talk About It Goals:
- Meet people where they are online through social media, email, and educational web presence
- Amplify the voices of field experts to get the word out about the effects of sexual violence
- Share easy-to-digest information about sexual assault prevention to raise awareness and advocacy
Project Status: Ongoing education opportunities through email and social media
Next Step: Put together focus groups to discuss delivery methods