Prevention 101 includes an introduction to this toolkit, as well as an introduction to the primary prevention of sexual violence. Prevention efforts exist on a continuum -- primary, secondary, and tertiary -- and primary prevention efforts are both new to the field, and a continuation of the social change on which the movement was founded. Integrating it effectively into sexual violence prevention efforts can be challenging, but immensely rewarding. 

Section II is the foundation of the toolkit. MECASA member center educators, with the guidance of the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Health Education and Prevention Coordinators, developed the format for this section. The educators, with DOE support, determined the format that would be most valuable for their work, and drafted the content as a team. Following each cover are lesson plans, activities, and games from across the state, which will help students answer the essential questions for each topic. MECASA member centers have generously provided these resources as a means for educators across Maine to develop and deliver the best possible programming in sexual violence prevention education. 

Section III includes a compendium of supporting resources. These vary from helping educators understand the approach to health education taken by the DOE as well as national curriculum development organizations; an overview of the best practice approach to ensuring that lesson plans and curricula address student attitudes, knowledge, and behavior; as well as resources to help develop effective training programs. 

Section IV is an introduction to other organizations in the state working on violence prevention programming, with a guide for opportunities for collaboration. 

Section V is an Appendix, with the complete Maine Learning Results, Key Concepts for Sexual Assault Prevention, and other resources designed to make this toolkit a comprehensive, one-stop resource for your prevention education planning efforts.  

This toolkit could not have been completed without the support of the statewide school- and community-based sexual violence prevention educators. At day-long quarterly meetings over two years, educators from every MECASA member center worked collaboratively to develop content, and to share their wisdom and experiences with their peers. Many thanks to the organizations which supported them in these efforts, and which developed the curriculum resources contained herein. Your contributions made this tool the valuable resource that it is. 


Thanks as well to the school- and community-based sexual violence educators for whom culture change is part of the job description. In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, “If you don’t like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.” Sexual violence prevention educators take a step toward this obligation each day. Thank you for your work. 

The production and printing of the Sexual Violence Prevention Education Toolkit  was supported with funding from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.