MOCADSV works to achieve the prevention of rape and abuse through an optimistic yet pragmatic mission: Eliminate sexual and domestic violence in Missouri campus communities by fostering a statewide network of experts and resources using an evidence-based, trauma-informed primary prevention approach.

To achieve campus violence prevention through coalition-building, in 2015 MOCADSV joined representatives from Missouri colleges, universities, and the state health department to participate in the first cohort of Action Planning Meetings coordinated by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the American Public Health Association.

MOCADSV continues its coalition-building work with these groups. Our collaboration with Partners in Prevention, a consortium of colleges and universities in Missouri, allows us to research Coalition sexual assault services data along with campus sexual assault reports. This informs universities of promising prevention practices and assists development of consistent campus and statewide prevention policies.

Joint efforts between MOCADSV, Partners in Prevention, and the Department of Health and Senior Services provides another opportunity to adapt the “Missouri Model” for a comprehensive approach to alleviate campus sexual assault. By strengthening the capacity for localized coalition-building between campuses and domestic and sexual violence organizations, communities are empowered to practice strategic collaboration for preventing gender-based violence on campus and in the surrounding community.

The primary goal of the Intern Resource Network is to prevent students from experiencing sexual harassment, violence and discrimination of any kind as they prepare to leave campus and enter the workforce. Though colleges offer a variety of prevention programs and support services on campus, it can be difficult for a student to know what resources exist in the larger community. Student interns are at a particularly high risk of experiencing sexual harassment, and the workforce can be a very different environment than a college campus.

The Intern Resource Network is a collaborative project of MOCADSV and Partners in Prevention. This project builds the capacity of campuses to work not only with students, but also with employers in the private and public sector, and local domestic and sexual violence organizations.

Given that state and local policies to address sexual harassment in the workplace are inconsistent, the Intern Resource Network is a starting place for best practices, and serves as a clearinghouse of information for students to know the extent of their rights under Title IX.