Assessing ICASA's capacity to advance primary prevention - the illinois coalition against sexual assault (ICASA) seeks to conduct a primary prevention capacity assessment of coalition's readiness to…

Assessing ICASA's capacity to advance primary prevention - the illinois coalition against sexual assault (ICASA) seeks to conduct a primary prevention capacity assessment of coalition's readiness to plan and implement equity-focused strategies. The capacity assessment will include three main components: a) internal capacity assessment of staffing, resources, and skills; B) data gathering and analysis to determine target communities and populations; and C) external capacity assessment with partners in prevention to identify areas of greatest need or gaps in current illinois sexual violence prevention efforts. ICASA will work with multi-sector partners including those both currently engaged in sexual violence prevention as well as those addressing or impacted by violence broadly including the state health departments, current sexual violence prevention implementors, public and private health and education organizations, culturally specific organizations, and survivors. Using the data-driven capacity assessment, ICASA will work with collaborative statewide partners to develop an action plan for the coalition which includes recommended evidence-informed, health equity focused, primary prevention strategies at the outer levels of the social ecological model which addressed unserved or underserved needs in current prevention efforts, supports and complements current partner's strategies, and improves health outcomes for the illinois communities with the greatest needs. Selected strategies will address health inequities which create disproportionate burden of sexual violence and bring awareness and help prevent sexual assault.