The goal of ZORUDENA in Education and Community Awareness Activities Program is to increase the community’s knowledge of the available programs and services offered. This is accomplished by informing the general public through various activities.

1. Participating in the Community Awareness Activities

• Activities are targeted to include underserved communities and diverse populations in our county.
• Community networking promotes community awareness of program services and availability by networking with professionals and leaders in the community.
• Developing, building and maintaining Response Teams, which include representatives from victim advocacy, law enforcement, prosecution and healthcare.
• Joining community-based collaborations (e.g., disaster preparedness committees, social service consortiums,)
• Communicating regularly with staff at local social service agencies, hospital emergency room, law enforcement, state attorney, clerk of court and non-certified victim advocates
• Visiting local businesses and dropping off sexual violence materials, event flyers and brochures
• Joining local groups and sharing information
• Collaboration with other agencies

2. Training For Professionals and Non-Professionals

“Training” refers to education about available programs/services that are provided to professional and non-professional audiences. We have trainers who are competent in the following content areas:

• Dynamics of each of our programs and all services that we offer
• Relevant community resources
• Crisis intervention
• Medical, criminal justice/legal and social service victim response

Our training sites include:

• Social service agencies and organizations
• Educational institutions, including daycare centers
• Healthcare facilities
• Law enforcement agencies
• Youth organizations
• Legal – (e.g.. legal associations, clerk-of-court or prosecutors)
• Clubs (e.g., League, Kiwanis, Rotary, Senior Center, LGBTQ, 4-H)
• Local businesses (e.g., provide sexual violence training to employees)
• Churches (e.g., provide training to congregations and/or religious leaders)

3. Participation in Community Events

Program staff are involved in events throughout the community. Participation in community events often includes a table with promotional and informational items containing (at minimum) program names and hotline number, program materials and program brochures. Examples of community events:

• Festivals
• Fairs
• Community celebrations
• Parades
• Social service outreach (career day open house)
• School events (sports events or campus clubs/activities
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities

4. Public Speaking

Getting the word out will increase community awareness of programs and available services. Things to consider for public speaking:

• Keep an agency speakers bureau – the list should include advocacy core trained staff and volunteers with public speaking experience, their areas of specialization and general availability
• Advertise your availability to speak on the topic of sexual violence
• Call potential sponsors for speaking engagements
• Seek opportunities to speak at community events
• Set up interviews for local television and radio programs
• Submit workshop proposals for conferences

5. Distribution of Materials

We routinely distribute program materials to schools, local businesses, churches, social service agencies, hospitals, law enforcement, court and legal personnel, clubs and civic organizations. Things to consider:

• Materials should include information about all available programs as well as defined programs best suited for visit. Include on materials hotline and office telephone numbers, hours and location of services and website address.
• We first inform community of materials that are available for distribution and a mechanism established to request material
• Drop off materials at local businesses (e.g., hotline tear off sheets, event flyers, program brochures)
• Contact law enforcement on a regular basis to check on the status of the “Victim Rights and Services” brochure. Responding officers are required to give the brochure to victims
• Develop materials that will be accessible to all members of your community

6. Resource Libraries (Future Plan)

Information technology is a means of sharing sexual violence materials and program services with the community. Site-based libraries, web-based resources and links and community-based libraries are all sources for resource sharing. Suggestions for resource libraries and sharing include:

• Maintain a resource library that contains up-to-date books, manuals, DVDs and training materials
• Advertise availability of agency-based resource library to the general public and/or local professionals
• Host a reading group
• Host a movie night
• Develop your agency website to include program specific resources that can be downloaded or links to resources