Rape prevention grant eyed for schools

AUGUSTA — State officials want to use a $133,000 federal grant to strengthen rape crisis programs in public schools by developing standardized curricula and training guidance counselors and nurses.

The grant will more than triple the amount of federal dollars allocated in previous years for Maine rape prevention programs, said Jeanette Talbot, federal grants manager at the Department of Human Service’s Auditing, Contracting and Licensing Service Center.

“What we’re proposing is to beef up what rape crisis programs are doing in schools,” Talbot said. “Now they can’t meet the demand for school-based prevention.”

Talbot wants to see some of the funds used to develop standardized curricula for schools and train staff.

“It’s not just rape we’re talking about. It’s also sexual harassment and sexual abuse,” Talbot said.

The state’s 10 rape crisis centers presented a proposal Wednesday for how each plans to spend the money.

The grant is part of the Violence Against Women Act in the federal crime bill. About 75 percent of the money must be spent on existing rape prevention programs, while the remaining 25 percent will be used for programs at the Bureau of Public Health, Talbot said.

Melissa Krueger, executive director of the Rape Crisis Assistance in Waterville, said her organization would like to use the money to start peer training programs at high schools.

“We would train students to be in-school educators, who would then be available to continue the process,” she said. “They’d be able to educate students the whole school year as well as act as appropriate role models. It’s our belief that would have a greater impact in creating systemic change.”

Like other centers around the state, the Waterville Center does some in-school training, has a 24-hour hot line and offers support groups.