Federal grant announced targets college campus sexual violence

WASHINGTON – The effort to curb sexual violence on college campuses received a financial shot in the arm from Washington with a $150,000 grant to National Health Promotion Associates in White Plains. The money, from the National Institutes of Health’s Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Program, will be used to develop and evaluate a new program to prevent sexual violence on college campuses.
The Westchester agency will develop and test a new program designed for incoming college students to prevent sexual violence – anchored in an evidence-based prevention program called Life Skills Training that will use a combination of web-based and small group methods.
Because sexual violence often occurs along with alcohol and drug abuse, the program will focus on both sexual violence and alcohol and drug abuse prevention.
“Sexual assault has no place in our society, especially on college campuses where students are building their futures,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D, NY17), who announced the grant. She said National Health Promotion Associates will design a program to “verifiably know which strategies are most effective at preventing these violent and criminal acts.”