MCTC Receives $300,000 to Help Protect Women from Violence

October 1, 2019
by Keith Kappes

Maysville Community & Technical College has been awarded a federal grant of $300,000 to support a three-year effort to prevent or reduce violence against women.

The funds from the U. S. Department of Justice will enable MCTC to work with the Women’s Crisis Center of Maysville, Maysville Police Department and other organizations to implement the Green Dot Violence Prevention Strategy.

Green Dot is a national program that trains students, faculty, and staff in bystander intervention to help prevent instances of power-based personal violence (PBPV).

PBPV is a form of violence where one individual asserts power, control, or intimidation over another to cause harm. This includes dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and harassment.

When these violent incidents occur on any MCTC campus, they’re seen as red dots. A “Green Dot” is defined as any action, choice, word, or attitude that counters or displaces a “red dot” of violence, reducing the likelihood that someone will be hurt.

Grant funds will be used to employ a project coordinator and victim’s advocate, starting in October.

The grant application was developed by Teresa Conway, Stacy Walden and Millicent Harding-Thomas.

Conway, MCTC’s college counselor and disability coordinator, says implementing the Green Dot program will promote safety for everyone in the college community.

“It also will send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated on any of the four campuses,” she added. “This grant will enhance MCTC’s collaboration among its campuses, law enforcement, and the Women’s Crisis Center.”

The WCC is led by its director, Melissa Greenwell.

Specifically, the grant will provide classroom presentations to all students covering the basics of realistic bystander intervention.

Students from diverse social groups will be peer-selected to attend in-depth bystander training which will prepare them to become influencers impacting behavior change throughout the institution.

Continued work with students will be to reinforce active bystander concepts and to encourage leadership. School staff members and community members will encourage active bystanding among students and adults alike.

The program also will train campus law enforcement officers to respond effectively, using promising techniques and a trauma-informed approach, to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Ongoing training will be conducted for campus conduct personnel, including investigators and disciplinary board members, on the same list of violent behaviors.

Comprehensive victim services will be provided on or off campus to casualties of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

Confidential, highly-individualized services will be provided at no cost to students, faculty, and staff.

For more information about Green Dot at MCTC, contact Teresa Conway at 606-759-7741, Ext. 66319, or via e-mail at teresa.conway@kctcs.edu