The Introduction of NAPASA into the US

In June of 2002, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) awarded Edward Renner a Sage Grant to establish an US web site for a National Action Plan Against Sexual Assault (napasa) based on the applied materials developed through the basic research program. The proposal was for a two-phase effort: 

Phase One

• Established a US web site by updating, revising and adapting the Canadian material for the United States. The URL www.napasa.org (National Action Plan Against Sexual Assault) now serves both the US and Canada.

• Prepared brief written introductions to the plan suitable for:
  
  • Soliciting the interest and involvement of sexual assault services in the US and Canada,
  • Publication in community and organizational newsletters, and as op-ed essays for US newspapers. The announcements clearly identified the US website from which all of the technical materials could be freely down loaded, reproduced and distributed in hard copy or electronic format.

• Bulk mailings to sexual assault services in the United States, to large newspapers, and to selected organizations concerned with male sexual violence. The goal was to reach enough people who would go the website and share their experiences with other interested parties in order that the movement would spread electronically.

Phase Two

• NAPASA sought external funding to establish a formal Clearing House to allow local groups to share their experiences and materials, and to put in place a national movement of free, public domain, material.
  
• Professor Renner through NAPASA gives professional support to anyone who contacts him about using the NAPASA materials, and he will do what ever he can to set in motion a collective movement that has a life and direction of its own, without ownership or control.

The Making a Difference National Conferences

In October of 2003, Edward Renner of NAPASA and Joanne Archambault of Sexual Assault Training and Investigations (SATI) were award funding to hold two national conferences, one in Canada and one in the United States, to implement the NAPASA strategy. The Canadian work is under the sponsorship of Carleton University and the US project is sponsored by End Violence Against Women (EVAW).

Participant-communities will receive full funding to attend the training conferences, and will receive follow-up support. Selection of participant-communities will be on a competitive basis.

Details of this social change program and application procedures are available on this site. Click on the "Making a Difference" link in the index at the left side of the screen for the most current information.

The "Making a Difference" project will considerably expand the amount of technical materials available over the next 30 months. The NAPASA web site will contain updated information on a regular basis, and it provide a sign-up form to register to receive announcements.

All of the NAPASA materials will remain in the public domain, and may be freely downloaded for use by local groups, and may be freely reproduced or published.

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