Social Media

As social media is growing and becoming part of the fabric of our society, it has become an essential element of how organizations engage with communities.

The Improve Group created several tools to assist agencies with learning about social media platforms, planning social media posts, and tracking and analyzing posts. Below is a list of the tools with a short description.

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Media Resources

Working with the media is a key way to influence change in your community. This page offers resources to assist in furthering that activity.

A Guide for Journalists on Reporting on Sexual Violence is a helpful tool developed by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. It includes information on wording choices, key concepts to consider, ethical considerations, statistics and current trends, information on perpetration, root causes, prevention and addresses rape myth. It also has helpful tips for interviewing sexual assault survivors.

FrameWorks completed a research study engaging experts on sexual violence to facilitate the design and advancement of effective ways of communicating about what constitutes sexual violence and how to address it in the US. This video summarizes the results of how the public thinks about sexual violence. It is meant to help experts and advocates communicate more effectively with the general public on sexual violence prevention.

Where we’re going and where we’ve been: Making the case for preventing sexual violence

Moving toward prevention: A guide for reframing sexual violence
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Campaign Resources

Below is a list of national campaigns related to intimate partner and sexual violence prevention. Some campaigns can be joined or adapted for free and others have materials that can be purchased.

It should be noted that awareness campaigns should be coupled with other prevention strategies that target all levels of the Social Ecological Model. Stand-alone awareness campaigns would not be considered a comprehensive primary prevention strategy.

When starting a campaign, it may be helpful to complete a Community Readiness Assessment or Community Needs Assessment to assist in selecting a campaign that is the best fit for your community.

Bringing in the Bystander Campaign, from the University of New Hampshire, uses a bystander intervention approach combined with a research component and assumes that everyone has a role to play in prevention. The research component measures how effective the program is within different communities.

Circle of 6 is an app originally designed for college students to prevent violence, but can be used by anyone seeking to foster healthy relationships and safety. It offers a discreet way to reach out for bystander assistance using a pre-programmed list of six close contacts and an icon system to call for help, assistance, or advice.

Denim Day, developed by Peace Over Violence, is a rape prevention education campaign that has become a symbol of erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling from the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent.

Hollaback! is a movement to end harassment powered by a network of local activists around the world. They work together to better understand harassment, to ignite public conversations, and to develop innovative strategies to ensure equal access to public spaces. It emphasizes use of digital and social media to help confront harassing and violent public behaviors.

It’s On Us, a public awareness campaign endorsed by President Obama and Vice President Biden, seeks to shift the way we think about sexual assault by inspiring everyone to see it as their responsibility to do something, big or small to prevent it. The website invites everyone to take a pledge to keep women and men safe from sexual assault and not be a bystander to the problem.

Know Your Power Bystander Social Marketing Campaign, from the University of New Hampshire, is a program focused on reducing sexual and relationship violence and stalking on college campuses. The campaign consists of a series of images which portray realistic and thought-provoking scenarios that highlight the important role all members of the community have in ending sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.

No More is a unifying symbol and campaign to raise public awareness and engage bystanders around ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

Not in Our School is a program that creates safe, accepting and inclusive school communities. It provides training, films, lesson plans and resources that inspire students to take the lead in standing up to bullying and intolerance in their schools.

One in Four is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of rape by the thoughtful application of theory and research to rape prevention programming. Their presentation and prevention strategies are based in statistical research and have been shown to increase likelihood of bystander intervention in a situation where rape or sexual assault may occur.

Red Flag, a project of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, uses a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking on college campuses. The campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to say something when they see warning signs ("red flags") for sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking in a friend’s relationship.

Redo Day is a 1-day event for kids in high school and junior high, designed to help kids look beyond stereotypes, build respect, and put an end to bullying.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is held each year in April. The goal is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.

Step Up! Sexual Assault Bystander Intervention, developed by the University of Arizona and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a prosocial behavior and bystander intervention program that educates students to be proactive in helping others. Teaching people about the determinants of prosocial behavior makes them more aware of why they sometimes don’t help. Facilitator and student guides are available for purchase.

Stop Street Harassment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and ending gender-based street harassment worldwide. They believe that street harassment impedes gender equality and must be taken seriously and not as a minor annoyance.

That’s Not Cool, developed by Futures Without Violence, is a campaign that includes a range of print, television, mobile, radio, web ads, social media pieces, apps and games that provide ways for teens to learn and practice health relationship skills. Youth Leadership is at the heart of That’s Not Cool, but the website has an Adult Allies section.

The Strength Campaign, from Men Can Stop Rape, embraces men as vital allies to make healthy choices and foster safe and equitable relationships. The Strength Campaign reached young men at every level of the Social Ecological model via clubs in middle and high school and colleges.

Where do You Stand, from Men Can Stop Rape, is a campaign that supports bystander intervention efforts. Campaign materials are available for purchase.

White Ribbon is a movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. Men are asked to wear white ribbons as a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.