My Turn: Alaska’s domestic violence, sexual assualt prevention efforts are working

  • By LAUREE MORTON
  • Wednesday, February 10, 2016 1:03am
  • Opinion

The Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault supports the work of Alaska’s domestic violence and sexual assault shelters and violence prevention efforts statewide. To do that, the council has engaged a wide range of programs to make a difference, from sponsoring the Green Dot Alaska program to teach effective violence intervention techniques, to supporting Coaching Boys Into Men and our Girls on the Run programs, to sponsorship of The Fourth R curriculum in schools and more. We have also continued to support outside evaluation of these programs to make sure that your tax dollars are being spent on programs that really work to reduce violence.

Two recent comprehensive statewide evaluations have shown that your prevention and intervention efforts are working in Alaska to reduce violence.

In concert with the University of Alaska Anchorage, the council conducts The Alaska Victimization Survey — an ongoing comprehensive statewide and regional survey to look at the prevalence of violence over time. Results of the most recent survey show that prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska has dropped since 2010. In 2010, 58 percent of Alaskan women surveyed reported experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. In 2015, that number dropped to 50 percent. While we know that is still much too high, it is good news in that the survey validates we are seeing a downward trend in violence. These are important results for evaluating the need for continued support of prevention and response efforts statewide.

In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of The Fourth R Program also showed that the school-based program makes a difference for youth. The Fourth R Program is designed to reduce violence, substance use and other risk behaviors among youth. The evaluator’s report showed the curriculum had positive impacts on youth and teachers involved. What the evaluation also found was that youth who participated in The Fourth R program showed improved awareness of abusive behavior and reduced acceptance of physical aggression and social attitudes and beliefs around rape. Results indicated that both students and teachers who participated in The Fourth R program improved communications around healthy relationships, bystander intervention and conflict resolution. And teachers who had experience with other health curricula reported preferring The Fourth R to any other curricula.

As Alaska continues with this Legislative session, it is the hope of the council that these findings will assist Alaskans to see the benefits of supporting evidence-based domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs statewide. We’re headed in the right direction and need to strengthen these efforts because while the drop is good, we still have a long way to go before all women are safe in Alaska.

• Lauree Morton is the Executive Director of the Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault.

More in Opinion

Web
Have something to say?

Here’s how to add your voice to the conversation.

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Opinion: Juneau taxpayers fight back

The right of the citizenry to directly petition their government is often… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: No local funds for scab labor

Using CBJ funds to help staff the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and… Continue reading

Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition and a former Juneau mayoral candidate. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
My Turn: Juneau’s budget needs a common-sense makeover

For too long Juneau’s budgeting approach has started in the wrong place… Continue reading

(First Things First Alaska Foundation photo)
My Turn: RIP Road Scholars for Juneau Access project

The latest version of the state’s capital budget reappropriates approximately $37 million… Continue reading

President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The administration says foreign governments are racing to the United States to negotiate, but exactly which countries might strike a deal — and over what — remains unclear. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Opinion: Cheerleading the dumbest trade war ever

In 2018, Sen. Dan Sullivan co-sponsored the STOP Act that he said… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan addresses a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature in the House Chambers on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
My Turn: Sen. Sullivan’s latest blabber — ‘Liberal Judges’

Two bedrock American values — equality under the law and fair elections… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter: Sen. Sullivan should have a voice, not just nod along with Trump

I echo the concerns expressed by Diane DeSloover in her letter in… Continue reading

Elon Musk boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, on Friday, March 21, 2025. Musk was traveling with President Donald Trump to Bedminster, N.J. The world’s richest man made inaccurate claims about entitlement fraud, how a government payment system works and government survey costs. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
My Turn: Is it time to impeach Elon Musk?

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States,… Continue reading

Most Read