
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist / Start by Believing Liaison
EVAWI
In April 2021, we are celebrating ten years since EVAWI first launched the Start by Believing campaign. Over the past decade, 554 US communities have launched campaigns, seeking to improve the way we respond to sexual and domestic violence, and thousands of people have made the pledge to Start by Believing. Campaigns have been launched in 23 other countries that we know of. During this session, we will discuss the ways in which Start by Believing can be viewed through the lens of prevention and reduce violence across the lifespan. Using stories from survivors, the presenter will share ways that Start by Believing can change justice and healing outcomes. We will also discuss how a positive response, such as believing the survivor, can prevent long-term health and healing consequences such as post traumatic stress disorder, suicide ideation, and autoimmune disease. We will also review preliminary evidence suggesting Start by Believing may have a positive impact on whether victims report or seek help.
Objectives
As a result of this webinar, participants will be better able to:
- Identify at least 3 ways Start by Believing can be used as a tool to prevent future sexual assaults.
- Examine the research on positive and negative responses to disclosures of sexual assault.
- Recognize the long-term health consequences of sexual assault, and how Start by Believing can be used as a tool for the prevention of those consequences.
- Explain the potential impact of Start by Believing on victim’s reporting and help seeking behaviors.
With a paid registration or subscription, you are free to personally listen to this webinar, as many times as you wish. You may also excerpt or cite the material following accepted conventions. However, you may not allow other individuals to listen to this webinar without their own registration or subscription.