YWCA Clark County

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A Year in Our Prevention Program

Allissa Cornell

A Year in Review: Building a Safer Community for Our Youth

At YWCA Clark County, our Prevention Program is dedicated to stopping violence before it starts by empowering youth in their friendships, romantic relationships, and family dynamics. We strive to equip young people with the skills they need to foster safer, more respectful communities. We know that youth face numerous challenges and complex social issues, and it’s vital that they feel heard and supported.

Last school year presented unique obstacles as we navigated the lingering effects of the pandemic. Many sixth graders struggled with behavioral and social issues, likely stemming from the limited early socialization opportunities during online learning. Meanwhile, high school students faced challenges in understanding the importance of asking for consent in their interactions, highlighting the need for continued education in this area.

Despite these challenges, we experienced significant successes. We forged new partnerships with local schools and strengthened our existing relationships, allowing us to reach even more youth. Our programs helped students gain a deeper understanding of how power and oppression manifest in relationships and society. Importantly, they also learned that everyone has different boundaries, and assumptions should never be made.

Looking ahead, we are working diligently to develop new programs for youth service providers and school staff. We are also revamping our youth action council, The Consent Co-Op, to ensure young people remain engaged in prevention work long after their initial involvement.

Reflecting on the 2023 school year, we’ve learned a great deal about the concepts students find challenging or easy to grasp. These insights are guiding us as we expand our impact and continue our mission of violence prevention. We’re inspired and ready to bring these lessons into the new school year.


Moving Forward: Our Plans for the Coming Year

As we embark on a new school year, our goal is clear: to educate more students and reach more schools across Clark County. In addition to expanding our group sessions, we have exciting new projects on the horizon:

The Consent Co-Op

The Consent Co-Op is our youth action council designed to keep young people engaged with our program even after they’ve participated in a group or attended one of our events. We aim to empower these youth to become changemakers in their communities, leading efforts to promote safety and justice in their schools, neighborhoods, and across Clark County.

Where We Lead

“Where We Lead” is an innovative curriculum we plan to launch if we receive the necessary funding. This multi-session program is specifically designed to support adults who work with youth, helping them build the skills needed to engage teens in conversations about healthy relationships and create safer environments. Our ultimate goal is to reduce violence among teens and strengthen social support networks by empowering teachers, counselors, caseworkers, and other adult professionals who work with 11-18-year-olds.

Fort Vancouver Regional Library Partnership

Recognizing the importance of involving the wider community in violence prevention, we’ve extended our programming to include adults working with youth. This initiative focuses on equipping adults with the tools they need to guide young people toward healthier relationships and safer environments. By involving the general public, we aim to create a community-wide effort to prevent violence.


How You Can Help

Our work is far from over, and we can’t do it alone. Here are a few ways to get involved:

Donate 

Volunteer 

  • BIPOC workshop host applications are still being accepted for our BIPOC Youth Summit for Nov 9th & 10th. Apply now! 

Connect & Share 

Attend Events

  • We will host multiple events for our action months: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (February), and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April).

Please check out our Instagram and the YWCA Clark County Events page for more information.