November 2nd, 2010

Grants Announced for Sexual Assault Prevention in Colorado
 
DENVER-Beginning November 1, 2010, 10 grantees across the state will continue work toward preventing sexual violence in various communities through sexual assault prevention grant awards. Grantees will address individual characteristics and situations (known as shared risk and protective factors) that perpetrate sexual violence among young people.
          The Sexual Assault Prevention Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment awarded $350,000 from Nov. 1, 2010 through Oct. 31, 2011, to the following agencies:
Alamosa
Tu Casa
Contact: Ashley Riley-Lopes, 719-589-2465
 
Canon City
Family Crisis Services
Contact: Andrea Hammond, 719-275-2429
Denver
Asian Pacific Development Center
Contact: Ge Thao, 720-921-5670
 
The Conflict Center
Contact: Ron Ludwig, 303-865-5625
 
Denver Children’s Advocacy Center
Contact: Angela Davidson, 303-825-3850
 
Sisters of Color United for Education
Contact: Adrienna Corrales, 303-446-8800
 
Ignacio
Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribes
Contact: Diane Millich, 970-259-2519
 
 
Durango
Sexual Assault Services Organization
Contact: Michael Rendon, 970-259-3074
 
Ft. Morgan
Sexual Assault Response Advocates (S.A.R.A.), Inc.
Contact: Paula Bragg, 970-867-2121
 
Fort Collins
Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center
Contact: Louann DeCoursey, 970-472-4204
 
According to state sexual assault prevention experts, measuring the magnitude of sexual violence is a significant challenge. National studies indicate 60 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992-2000). In 2009, Colorado statewide offenses showed 2,242 forcible rapes were reported by law enforcement agencies, a 2 percent increase over 2008.
Grantees will focus on building their capacity to address community-specific “risk” and “protective” factors, which are either positive or negative characteristics that affect multiple types of violence.
“For example, ‘family connectedness,’ which is defined as family closeness, support and responsiveness, is a shared protective factor for child mistreatment, suicide, sexual violence and community violence,” explained Agnieszka McCort, Sexual Violence Prevention Program Development Specialist. “Key components of this approach are to use the strengths of young people to prevent violence and implement programs and strategies that focus on positive youth development,” she said.