Community Sexual Violence Prevention Assessment

Despite data clearly indicating significant disparities in sexual violence (SV) based on race, sexuality, and disability status, many efforts to prevent violence are not inclusive of or accessible to disproportionately impacted Michigan communities.

In 2021, Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI), in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program and other state and community leaders, began a statewide participatory Community SV Prevention Assessment (CSVPA). The CSVPA prioritized four core Michigan communities disproportionately impacted by SV but whose lived experiences are often overlooked or ignored: the Black, Native/Indigenous, LGBTQ+, and Disability communities.

The CSVPA Advisory Committee, comprising a wide range of state and local organizations and individuals with experience in the core communities and in sexual violence prevention in Michigan, worked alongside MPHI to guide this participatory assessment. Their counsel was essential to ensure the process was culturally responsive, timely, and community informed. Despite the major time commitment, members reported their involvement was transformative personally and critical in shaping their own work moving forward.

The CSVPA results presented a rich and wide-ranging picture of what sexual violence looks like in the focus communities, how risk and protective factors for violence unequally affect them, and what their prevention resources and needs are. Data briefs including recommendations from the assessment are available to Michigan communities and prevention practitioners here:

Executive Summary: Findings from Michigan’s Community Sexual Violence Assessment

• CSVPA Brief: Bodily Autonomy – Equitable Sexual Violence Prevention

• CSVPA Brief: Community Safety – Equitable Sexual Violence Prevention

• CSVPA Brief: Connectedness – Equitable Sexual Violence Prevention

• CSVPA Brief: Economic Supports – Equitable Sexual Violence Prevention

These briefs fill a critical gap in data for these communities. They are being used by state and local partners to prioritize engagement and partnership with under-resourced communities; develop policy, funding, and evaluation mechanisms to scale and adapt community-driven solutions; and center community voices to guide prevention work.

Based on the results (mphi.org/svp), MDHHS/MPHI embarked upon a participatory grantmaking process in 2023 focused on prevention of SV against LGBTQ+ folks who also identify as Native, Black, and/or Disabled. They heavily involved community representatives in developing the program and selecting grantees to implement Michigan’s SV prevention work moving forward, and in building the MDHHS/MPHI team’s capacity to do good work at these unique intersections of identity.

The team is proud not only of the results of the assessment and grantmaking, but also the processes by which they intentionally moved from bare minimum engagement or legal compliance to authentic inclusion and empowerment of community leaders. They encourage you to reach out to learn more about practical, real-world ways to conduct intersectional participatory work; and to hear how dedicated community leaders helped these state-level public health practitioners think better, do better, and be better, and to learn how your organization can do it too.

Assessment Completed: September 2023