Prevention Education and Community Engagement

Reducing the Incidence of Crime Through Education

Quick Links:  
Community and Professional Education | Sexual Assault Response Team | Take a Stand, Troy | Community Programs

St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services aims to reduce the incidence of crime in our community through prevention education and community programs. Our team conducts education and training programs in schools and other community sites. We participate in community groups and events across the Capital Region to promote awareness and personal safety. 

Community and Professional Education

Our team of trained educators is available to present on topics including: 

• sexual assault
• consent
• boundaries
• personal safety
• sexual harassment
• diversity awareness
• stalking
• bystander intervention
• bullying/cyberbullying
• internet safety
• elder abuse

These programs are offered to a variety of audiences including K-12 students, colleges, athletes, educators, parents/caregivers, military personnel, and community groups.

Programs are intended to be informative and interactive. We believe people learn best by actively engaging in conversation, asking questions, and applying newly learned information. All programs can be tailored to meet the needs of the audience.

Our educators have worked with a range of student populations and professional groups throughout the Capital Region and beyond, including various Major League Baseball organizations and the United States Coast Guard.

If you have any questions or would like to request a program or training, please contact our senior educator, Michael.Fonda@sphp.com or 518-271-3158.

Community Programs Include: 

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

The Rensselaer County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a multi-disciplinary response to sexual assault. Our goal is to provide victim-centered care, and better working relationships between disciplines, with the common goal to reduce sexual assault in our community. The team is made up of professionals from law enforcement, healthcare, counseling, advocacy, higher education, and prosecution, and emphasizes overcoming the challenges inherent in working collaboratively on sexual assault cases.

Rensselaer County's SART Activities Include:

• An annual free conference
• As the first identified community SART to conduct tabletop exercises in the United States, the Rensselaer County SART seeks to use hypothetical case scenarios to improve response to sexual assault victims/survivors in our community.
• Monthly meetings and training opportunities

For more information or to join the Rensselaer County SART, please contact Adrienne Barker at Adrienne.Barker@sphp.com

Take a Stand, Troy

Take a Stand, Troy is a community initiative to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, create an open dialogue, and inspire the community to build a culture in which interpersonal violence is not tolerated. This initiative is coordinated through Crime Victims Services but relies on the support of the community.

Local businesses are invited to take part in free training that will provide employees the knowledge and tools necessary to intervene to protect the well-being of others. The 45-minute training uses a bystander intervention approach with real-life scenarios and an interactive discussion.

Businesses who take part in this training will receive informational materials to display at their business to help spread the word about this vital community initiative. Crime Victims Services will provide employees with ongoing training and support services as necessary.

For more information, please call 518-270-3006.

Enough Abuse Rensselaer County: a collaboration of community agencies that work to end child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Strides for Survivors 5k: a run/walk/roll in support of survivors of sexual assault.