Ready to Rise: Assessing NDDSVC’s Capacity for Leading Health Equity-Focused Sexual Violence Prevention Efforts

NDDSVC’s role as the designated state sexual assault coalition includes a strategic focus on addressing sexual violence through prevention strategies and creating a culture of respect, consent, and nonviolence in North Dakota. In 2023, NDDSVC received funding and resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program Grant to complete a year-long, data-driven Coalition Capacity Assessment addressing areas of sexual violence primary prevention strengths and areas of potential strategic growth.

The Assessment process, led by NDDSVC RPE staff and our collaborative partner Wise Action Consulting, concentrated on and gathered information from key stakeholders on the Coalition’s role, context, and organizational capacities in five key health equity-focused sexual violence prevention areas:

1. Staffing and Resources
2. Staff Skills and Expertise
3. Training and Technical Assistance
4. Collaboration and Partnerships
5. Data and Evaluation

The full report details the findings and considerations for each area, ultimately finding that NDDSVC does have the strengths to rise and become the statewide leader on sexual violence primary prevention that stakeholders’ desire and North Dakotans need.