Prevention, YWCA Clark County
January 2025

As we step into the new year, January marks National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), a crucial time to shed light on a pervasive issue that affects millions. Stalking, often misunderstood and underestimated, is "a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or suffer substantial emotional distress." (SPARC)

The Reality of Stalking
Contrary to popular media portrayals, stalking isn't limited to strangers lurking in dark alleys. In fact, most stalkers are known to their victims – they could be acquaintances, family members, or current or former partners. This misconception can lead to overlooking genuine stalking behaviors and reinforcing false stereotypes about who can be stalked.

Stalking can manifest in various ways:

• Unwanted contact (calls, texts, social media messages)

• Sending unwanted gifts

• Showing up / approaching an individual or their family/friends

• Monitoring and surveillance

• Property damage and/or threats

Looking Ahead and Taking Action
National Stalking Awareness Month serves as a vital reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing violence and supporting those impacted by stalking. Over the next six months, follow our blog series as we share curated reading lists, actionable insights, and updates on workshops aimed at fostering safer communities. Together, we can learn, grow, and build a future where everyone feels secure.

If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, help is available. For immediate resources, visit the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center for guidance and tools to take next steps.

For individuals experiencing stalking by a current or former intimate partner, our YWCA Clark County advocates are here to help. You can access our walk-in services or call our confidential hotline at 360-695-0501

Prevention Starts with Education
At YWCA Clark County, our prevention program team members work to educate our youth to combat stalking and other forms of violence. They are partnering for six-months with Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries (FVRL) to share resources and prevention knowledge on healthy relationships for youth.

The goal is to engage in conversations with youth about healthy and affirming relationships and highlight unhealthy or abusive relationships where stalking may be present.

Our prevention team engages with the community through:

• Where We Grow and Where We Thrive programs in middle and high schools

• Annual BIPOC Youth Summit and Queer Couve Youth Summit

  • Community sponsors/partners, presenters and volunteers are needed annually.

• Where We Lead program for teachers and youth service providers

Empowering Our Community
Everyone has a role in preventing stalking. Here's how you can help:

1. Learn about consent and boundaries

2. Have open conversations about healthy relationships

3. Recognize the signs of stalking

4. Support those who may be experiencing stalking

To dive deeper, check out these resources at FVRL. Don't have a library card? Get one here: https://www.fvrl.org/library-accounts

Here are 10 books available at FVRL you can check out.

For Youth:

1. Every Body Curious – Rachel E. Simon

2. Little Big Chats - Jayneen Sanders

3. We Can Say No – Lydia Bowers

4. Do As I Say, Not Who I Did – Ali Drucker

5. We Are in Charge of Our Bodies - Lydia Bowers

For Adults:

1. Growing Up in Public – Devorah Heitner

2. Creating Consent Culture – Marcia Baczynski

3. Sex Positive Talks to Have with Kids – Melissa Pintor Carnagey

4. The Body is Not an Apology – Sonya Renee Taylor

5. Teaching Consent – Jane Gilmore