The Kansas Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Program at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has awarded funding to the Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center (SAPEC) at the University of Kansas. This funding comes from the CDC Rape Prevention and Education grant within KDHE’s Injury & Violence Prevention Program and will be available until January 2029. It will support SAPEC’s new project, “Cultivating Protective Communities.”

SAPEC aims to promote social change and eliminate sexual violence through prevention education, inclusive programming, and collaboration across the campus. The center draws inspiration from previous environmental and situational prevention initiatives with KU fraternities and sororities, focusing on surveying frequent host sites and educating peers about creating a safe environment and supportive community.

Three Kansas organizations, Jana’s Campaign, Livewell Finney County, and the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, have joined as the initial Implementation Site Leaders for the Cultivating Protective Community project.

Additional participants in the project include various agencies, such as Fort Hays State University, Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, High Plains Mental Health Center, the City of Garden City, the Garden City Police Department, Garden City Community College, K-State Extension, Finney County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wichita Police Department. Each implementation site team will work alongside community partners to minimize opportunities for harmful behaviors while promoting the adoption of protective behaviors.