Primary Prevention in Practice: Utilizing K-12 Sexual Health Education to Prevent Sexual Violence in Virginia

Sexual violence is a pervasive issue nation-wide and within the state of Virginia. This project aims to classify the problem of sexual violence as a public health issue, determine its connection to Sexual Health Education (SHE), and identify a path for the state of Virginia to use SHE to prevent sexual violence in young adults. The project lays out a mix of analysis and proposal, highlighting a present problem and allowing modes of solution. The first section of the project is dedicated to historical analysis of SHE and establishes a connection between SHE and Sexual Violence Prevention (SVP). The second section aims to propose revision to the Virginia Department of Education’s Standards for Family Life Education (FLE) programs, the current SHE equivalent in Virginia. These revisions highlight Primary Prevention tactics within the K-12 Public School system to create a more preventative model of education for younger students. The final section lays out a proposed Virginia Code Revision that would make FLE programs mandated for all K-12 students attending state-funded schools, with an emphasis on SVP education. The project uses Virginia as a political stepping stone to re-introducing growth of SHE by specifically connecting it to SVP and a demonstrated need for policy intervention.