A four-year grant from the State Department of Health Services will fund sexual violent prevention in Rock County.
Janesville Mobilizing 4 Change is organizing a team of area service providers to determine what is already in place and what more is needed. They held their first meeting Tuesday afternoon, with representatives from Community Action, Beloit Domestic Violence Survivor Center, Sexual Assault Response Program, Rock County Human Services and JATV.
Project coordinator Xandi Finn said the rate of sexual violence in Rock County is higher than the state average and can often be tied to human trafficking and drug issues in the area.
Rock County has multiple agencies that can respond to sexual violence, but not many work directly on prevention strategies.
The group aims to work with every school district in the county and a wide range of employers and non-profits to reach potential victims and perpetrators before sexual violence occurs.
The grant also requires the prevention team to analyze local policies and submit a strategic plan for how to make progress in the community.
