Prevention In FY2016, MECASA’s prevention efforts focused on two key initiatives: the first was to expand our ability to ensure that programming is based in the best available evidence; the second was to expand the capacity of local providers to deliver innovative prevention programming with local partners. After several years of planning and preparation, we launched statewide prevention outcome evaluation indicators and a statewide database, both of which allow for better collection and analysis of available primary prevention data. The outcome measures align with the Maine Department of Education Learning Results, which ensures that outcomes are based on a statewide understanding of age-appropriate concepts, and will allow us to better understand the impact of prevention efforts at the statewide and local level. The database provides a platform for collecting and analyzing outcomes data, as well as supporting a more informed understanding of prevention programming (such as sessions, audience, and time invested) in real time. “The mini grants allowed us to provide incentives, like childcare, to attend programming in the community. These made it possible for people to participate who might not normally have the flexibility to do so.” -Prevention Educator Finally, we continue to work to expand the capacity of local programming. In FY2016, one of our most exciting prevention initiatives included our first effort at offering competitive “mini-grants” to local providers. These mini grants were offered with the intention of supporting the providers’ ability to engage in innovative programming, to expand partnerships with local schools and community organizations, and to reduce barriers to participation for identified audience members, such as transportation support for low-income parents to access multisession child sexual abuse prevention and healthy sexuality promotion programming. Projects included Super Hero Academy, which is a bystander intervention focused, full-school assembly presentation that uses an interactive presentation to “bring students on a heroic journey that tests their super powers and takes them beyond our world.” MECASA FY2016 Annual Report 4
6 Publizr Home