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Montana State Plan for the 20 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM

Full Plan #25 Effective 01/01/2024 Supersedes #2 01/01/2021.

Montana Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Services Program Montana received $441623 for FY2023 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mission of the Montana Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Services Program (SVPVS) is to reduce the statewide incidences of sexual violence through primary prevention efforts focused on influencing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of those most at risk to perpetrate. Currently, there are approximately 40 contractors ranging from middle schools, high ed. institutes, and sexual violence and domestic violence services providers. The funds are used for the following: 1. Educational seminars; 2. Training programs for professionals; 3. Preparation of informational materials; 4. Education and training programs for students and campus personnel designed to reduce the incidence of sexual violence at colleges and universities. 5. Rigorous evaluation efforts of primary prevention strategies. 6. Other efforts to increase education surrounding sexual violence prevention. Including efforts to increase awareness in rural communities across the state through a Healthy Relationships Campaign. Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Montana received $23,123 for SFY 2023 in federal funding from the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG) administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The SVPVS program works alongside the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to fund healthy relationship activities to engage adult and youth leaders who work with people ages 13-19 during a Youth Summit and/or Regional Institutes. The program will also seek to improve awareness and develop healthy relationship skills within adolescent throughout the year. Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Program Montana’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Education program State Action Plan has four major focus areas that use the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) for strategies. 75% of activities are community-level and 25% are individual level. 1) Promote Social Norms that Protect Against Violence a. Bystander Intervention Social Norms Campaign on College Campuses b. Men as Allies on College Campuses c. Health Relationship/Affirmative Consent on College Campuses 2) Teach Skills to Prevent Violence a. Power Up, Speak Out! Evaluation and training for Middle School Students 3) Provide Opportunities to Empower and Support Girls and Women a. Strengthening economic supports for women and families by addressing gender equity issues in Montana.