Two weeks ago, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implemented a significant number of job cuts that will impact our response to sexual assault here locally.

The Program Branch of the CDC Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) was eliminated. This section, which is part of the Injury Center, is responsible for administering the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program that has provided Crime Victim Services with vital funding to carry out prevention programming since 2013.

We depend on these resources to implement our Violence Prevention Program in Allen and Putnam Counties. Our primary focus is providing culturally appropriate educational curriculum to youth and adults in our community with the express purpose of preventing interpersonal violence and cultivating a culture where consent and respect for one another is a central tenet.

Research suggests that most youth in the United States begin dating between 9 and 12 years of age and are vulnerable to experiencing violence with their first relationship.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 12% of youth experience physical violence by a dating partner and 25% experience psychological or emotional abuse by a dating partner.

Data from our local community health assessments suggest that youth in Allen and Putnam counties are no exception. In 2024, Crime Victim Services was able to reach over

2,000 youth to carry out our violence prevention curriculum. Our work is effective – 93% of youth demonstrated knowledge of healthy relationships after participating in our multi-day, interactive curriculum. We also worked directly with over 500 survivors of sexual violence in the community to advocate for them as they heal through the trauma of their experiences.

We call on the administration to reinstate the Division of Violence Prevention Program Branch at the CDC to ensure critical sexual assault and domestic violence prevention programs can continue which includes ensuring that Congressionally approved funds be administered to state health departments and state sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions around the country. We additioionally call on HHS fHHS must also reinstate the Director of the Office on Family Violence Prevention and Services to ensure continued essential leadership functions of this program.

Ryn Wolfe Farmer
Deputy Director
Crime Victim Services