Violence Prevention

The rape and violence prevention program provides prevention services, program development and technical support for the primary prevention of rape, sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence in Knox County.

Per federal recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Program, the position employs the Spectrum of Prevention Model approach to violence prevention in Knox County.  The Spectrum of Prevention Model identifies six levels of intervention:

• Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills
• Promoting Community Education
• Educating Providers
• Fostering Coalitions and Networks
• Changing Organizational Practices
• Influencing Policies and Legislation

Relevant Healthy People 2020 Objectives:

IVP-32            Reduce nonfatal physical assault injuries
IVP-35            Reduce bullying among adolescents
IVP-39            Reduce violence by current or former intimate partners
IVP-40            Reduce sexual violence

Responsibilities:

• Administer, plan and maintain local and regional rape prevention efforts
• Submit an annual action plan to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH)
• Submit two semi-annual progress reports to TDOH
• Implement educational programs for youth and adults about healthy relationships, bystander intervention, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment and bullying
• Develop community-wide media campaigns that address primary prevention of rape, sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence
• Collaborate with local partners, including the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee, (SACETN), Community Coalition on Family Violence (CCFV), Knoxville Family Justice Center (FJC), Knox Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (KAPPI), Child and Family Tennessee, East Tennessee Civil Rights Working Group, Clergy Task Force Against Family Violence and Latino Task Force
• Coordinate the Males for Violence Prevention (MVP) Task Force

Contact Information:

Karen L. Stier, MSW
Public Health Educator
Knox County Health Department
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN  37917
(865) 215-5061
karen.stier@knoxcounty.org