 Content and Photo Created by: Chat AI
The American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, under the leadership of Executive Director Jennifer F. Tofaeono, has made significant strides in advancing community-centered approaches to preventing sexual violence. Recently, Communications Manager Marilyn Ho Ching, Communications Administrative Assistant Vatau Fanene, Community Trainer Monica Veavea, and Training Manager Judy Matautia completed specialized Key Informant Interview (KII) training. This initiative, as outlined in the Evaluation Plan, underscores the Alliance's commitment to fostering cultural competence, inclusivity, and data-driven strategies. The Role of Key Informant Interviews Key Informant Interviews are a cornerstone of the Alliance's approach to engaging stakeholders and understanding the nuanced dynamics of sexual violence in American Samoa. These interviews serve as a platform to connect with community leaders, healthcare advocates, educators, and social service providers, capturing their insights on primary prevention strategies and existing barriers. By adopting the *Talanoa* methodology—a culturally significant dialogue framework—the Alliance ensures that these conversations are authentic, empathetic, and reflective of the lived experiences of participants. The data collected through KIIs helps identify gaps in resources, cultural sensitivities, and opportunities for targeted interventions. For example, interviews have revealed that community members often feel disconnected from existing prevention efforts due to cultural taboos and limited access to information. Insights like these enable the Alliance to refine its strategies, ensuring they are both relevant and effective. Engaging the Community and Advocates Through the KII process, the Alliance actively engages diverse voices, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration among stakeholders. The training provided by Jennifer F. Tofaeono equipped team members with the skills to conduct these interviews sensitively and effectively, emphasizing the importance of building trust and rapport. To broaden engagement, the Alliance has reached out to over 400 stakeholders via emails, social media, and word-of-mouth networks, commonly referred to as the "coconut wireless." This multi-pronged approach ensures a wide range of perspectives, including those from underserved populations such as the Fa’afafine community, youth, and women. Stakeholder interviews also highlight systemic challenges, such as socioeconomic disparities and geographic isolation, providing a comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence vulnerability to sexual violence. Benefits to the Community The outcomes of these interviews promise transformative impacts for the community. Some anticipated benefits include: 1. Tailored Interventions: By understanding the unique challenges faced by different groups, the Alliance can design programs that are culturally and contextually appropriate. For instance, incorporating Samoan values such as *Fa’aSamoa* and *fa’aaloalo* ensures that prevention efforts resonate deeply with local norms. 2.Strengthened Partnerships: Engaging stakeholders across sectors—healthcare, education, law enforcement—enhances collaboration and resource sharing, creating a robust support network for victims and advocates. 3. Increased Awareness: Feedback from KIIs is already shaping public awareness campaigns, emphasizing positive messaging in Samoan to challenge stigmas and promote social change. 4. Empowered Advocates: By involving community leaders and advocates in the process, the Alliance cultivates a cadre of informed and motivated individuals who can champion prevention efforts in their spheres of influence. Call to Action The Alliance has already begun conducting these impactful interviews, but the journey is ongoing. We invite community members, organizations, and advocates to join this effort. Your voice matters, and your insights are crucial to creating safer, healthier communities in American Samoa. If you or someone you know is interested in participating or learning more, please contact us at (684) 699-0272 or email [email protected]. Together, we can break the silence and build a resilient community grounded in respect and empathy. Through the dedicated leadership of Jennifer F. Tofaeono and the collective efforts of her team, the Alliance is not only advancing sexual violence prevention but also redefining community engagement. Key Informant Interviews are more than just a data collection tool; they are a bridge connecting the community’s needs with actionable solutions. By fostering inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and collaboration, the Alliance is paving the way for a brighter future, where every individual feels valued and protected.
0 Comments
 written by: Jennifer Tofaeono, AI Chat (photo)
At the Alliance every day we actively work on developing solutions for sexual violence prevention with the support of our CDC Rape Prevention Evaluation Program. The focus of this project requires working together from our staff to community members, to partners and stakeholders to address sexual assault in our community. Since 2023, the Alliance has been actively working on Rape Prevention through our funding from Centers of Disease and Control (CDC). Our focus is to create solutions for sexual violence prevention. The emphasis is to engage our stakeholders to concentrate on critical health equity issues in American Samoa. Over the next few months, we will share with the community our key activities in collaboration with community leaders and health professionals. When we do this work, we discuss and translate concepts into our local language and unpack our Fa’aSamoa traditions that can help or prevent efforts of prevention for sexual assault. This requires crucial conversations in safe spaces. Stakeholder Interviews and Key Informant Sessions Currently our Alliance Team is being trained in how to conduct Key Informant Interviews. The meetings have been held virtually and led by the Executive Director. In this session we are learning the importance of interviewing our community. We have identified different members in our community who may have knowledge or experience about the family and sexual assault, as well as what is health equity. We have identified at least 30 stakeholders to interview consisting of leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, and social agencies. From these conversations it will allow us to have an increased understanding of health equity issues. From this we can create opportunities for collaboration, as we build a new rape prevention project aligned with CDC’s framework. As stated, before our team has and continues to undergo intensive training on how to conduct and develop Key Informant Interviews. To be successful the Alliance recognizes equipping staff on how to lead meaningful discussions with healthcare providers and community leaders. The information we gain from participants will be valuable information that will shape future prevention strategies. Engaging stakeholders is essential to the success of our prevention efforts. CDC data emphasizes that strong partnerships are critical, particularly in rural communities where health disparities are more pronounced. By working closely with stakeholders, we can co-create solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable within the unique context of American Samoa. Stay Informed and GET INVOLVED! The Alliance invites community members to follow our progress over the coming months. We are committed to providing regular updates and opportunities for feedback to ensure that our efforts reflect the needs and concerns of the people we serve. If you would like to learn more about the CDC Rape Prevention Evaluation Program or participate in future activities, please contact Jennifer Tofaeono, Executive Director, at (684) 699-0272 or via email at [email protected]. Your involvement is crucial in helping us create safer communities and build a healthier future for American Samoa. We look forward to working with you to foster change, promote health equity, and prevent sexual violence in our community.  Written by: Vatauomalotetele Fanene
In today's public health landscape, the need for effective violence prevention strategies is more urgent than ever. The Centers for Disease Control/Rape Prevention and Education (CDC/RPE) team is actively engaged in tackling this pressing issue through a series of collaborative webinars with various coalitions. These initiatives aim not only to share valuable knowledge but also to promote innovative approaches and best practices that can address the complex challenges surrounding violence prevention. The upcoming webinars is to provide valuable insights into the complexities surrounding violence prevention, particularly through the lens of accessibility and economic support. This three-part series focuses on the crucial distinction between the availability of resources and their accessibility to those in need. While it is essential for communities to have preventative services in place, the pressing question remains: Are these services truly accessible? The webinars will explore this dichotomy by identifying barriers that impede access and presenting case studies that showcase successful strategies for overcoming these obstacles. Participants will engage in rich discussions aimed at creating environments where preventive measures can function effectively, ultimately contributing to a reduction in violence incidence. 1. Cross Program Webinar: Access vs. Availability - Lessons from the Field 2. Strengthening Economic Supports to Prevent Interpersonal Violence Economic factors have a profound impact on the prevalence of interpersonal violence. This webinar will delve into the ways in which strengthening economic supports for families can mitigate risks associated with sexual and intimate partner violence. By addressing critical issues such as income inequality, unemployment rates, and gender disparities, this session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how economic stability can serve as a protective factor against violence. An opportunity to emerge with practical knowledge, including the ability to articulate the “strengthening economic supports” approach, and will be equipped with resources and frameworks for effective implementation. 3. Prevent-Connect Webinars: Institutionalizing LGBTQIA+ Justice in Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention The need for inclusivity in violence prevention strategies has never been more urgent, particularly for LGBTQIA+ communities. This series will be divided into three sessions that will address the heightened risks faced by LGBTQIA+ youth, who experience significantly higher rates of sexual and dating violence compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers. The ongoing climate of anti-trans and anti-queer sentiments necessitates a proactive approach to creating safe and supportive environments. This webinar will unite dedicated LGBTQIA+ advocates and activists, emphasizing the importance of uplifting trans joy and inclusion as values integral to the mission of ending sexual and intimate partner violence. These webinars serve as vital platforms for networking and collaboration among coalitions. By sharing insights and experiences, participants can learn from one another, thereby enhancing their capacity to implement effective strategies within their respective communities. The CDC/RPE team recognizes that addressing violence is a complex endeavor that requires a multifaceted approach, and these cross-program initiatives are essential for fostering a collective impact. As we look forward to the upcoming webinars, it is evident that the CDC/RPE team's commitment to violence prevention is resolute. By collaborating with various coalitions and focusing on critical issues such as access, economic supports, and LGBTQIA+ justice, we are not only enhancing our understanding of violence prevention but also paving the way for more inclusive and effective strategies. The journey towards creating safer environments for all is ongoing, and participation in these webinars represents  The American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence has been awarded funding under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Rape Prevention Education (RPE) program for the next four years. This funding represents a significant opportunity for the Alliance to further its mission of preventing sexual violence within the Samoan community by implementing evidence-based strategies and culturally relevant practices. The workplan for the Alliance CDC Team, consisting of Communications Manager Marilyn Ho Ching, Communications Assistant Vatau Fanene, and Executive Director Jennifer Tofaeono, is centered on building the necessary infrastructure to enhance the internal capacity of the program. This will ensure effective facilitation and monitoring of prevention programs, practices, and policies that align with the unique cultural context of American Samoa.
The primary focus for this year is to develop and strengthen bystander intervention programs through the Social Ecological Model (SEM), which considers the various levels of influence on behavior: individual, relationship, community, and societal. The Social Ecological Model serves as a framework that recognizes the interwoven relationship between these factors and provides a comprehensive approach to preventing sexual violence by engaging individuals, fostering positive relationships, and creating supportive community and societal norms. The Alliance is committed to adapting this model to reflect Fa'aSamoa, the Samoan way of life, ensuring that prevention efforts resonate with the community's cultural values and social structures. One of the key strategies under this grant is to create and strengthen bystander intervention programs specifically tailored for the Samoan community and other indigenous populations. Bystander intervention is a critical component of sexual violence prevention, as it empowers individuals to recognize and act upon potentially harmful situations before they escalate into violence. The Alliance will explore and adapt existing bystander intervention models that have been successful in similar cultural contexts. For instance, programs like *Bringing in the Bystander* and *Green Dot*, which have been implemented in various indigenous communities, offer valuable insights into how bystander intervention can be effectively promoted within tight-knit and culturally distinct groups. Over the next few months, the Alliance will focus on conducting or leveraging existing primary prevention capacity assessments with an emphasis on health equity. Health equity in rape prevention education involves ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or cultural background, have equal access to resources, education, and support systems that protect them from sexual violence. In the context of American Samoa, where cultural norms and values heavily influence behavior, understanding and addressing health equity is vital to the success of any prevention effort. To effectively address these issues, the Alliance will conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including community leaders, healthcare providers, educators, and social service agencies. These interviews will assess stakeholders' knowledge and understanding of health equity issues related to rape prevention and identify opportunities for collaboration. Through these discussions, the Alliance aims to uncover gaps in existing programs and resources, as well as cultural barriers that may prevent effective intervention and support. The insights gained will inform the development of tailored strategies that address the specific needs of the Samoan community. Health equity issues in rape prevention education often stem from systemic inequalities that affect access to services and support. In American Samoa, factors such as geographic isolation, limited healthcare infrastructure, and cultural stigmas surrounding sexual violence can exacerbate these inequalities. For instance, Fa'aSamoa places a strong emphasis on family and communal harmony, which can sometimes discourage victims from speaking out against perpetrators, particularly if they are family members or close associates. Moreover, traditional gender roles may also influence how sexual violence is perceived and addressed within the community, potentially hindering the effectiveness of conventional prevention programs. To overcome these challenges, the Alliance's work under the CDC RPE grant will prioritize culturally sensitive approaches that respect and incorporate Samoan values. This includes engaging elders and traditional leaders in prevention efforts, utilizing culturally relevant messaging in educational campaigns, and ensuring that intervention programs are accessible to all members of the community, including those in remote areas. By fostering a deeper understanding of health equity and its impact on rape prevention, the Alliance aims to create a more inclusive and effective response to sexual violence in American Samoa. In conclusion, the CDC Rape Prevention Education grant program provides the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence with a critical opportunity to build capacity and enhance its prevention efforts through culturally informed strategies. By focusing on bystander intervention and addressing health equity issues, the Alliance will work to create a safer and more supportive environment for all members of the Samoan community. As the Alliance moves forward with its workplan, it will continue to engage with stakeholders, assess needs, and develop interventions that align with Fa'aSamoa, ensuring that the community is both empowered and equipped to prevent sexual violence. **Cited References:** 1. Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., & Plante, E. G. (2007). *Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation.* Journal of Community Psychology, 35(4), 463-481. 2. Nation, M., Crusto, C., Wandersman, A., Kumpfer, K. L., Seybolt, D., Morrissey-Kane, E., & Davino, K. (2003). *What works in prevention: Principles of effective prevention programs.* American Psychologist, 58(6-7), 449-456. 3. World Health Organization. (2021). *Health equity and its role in preventing violence against women.* WHO. 4. Wallerstein, N., & Duran, B. (2010). *Community-based participatory research contributions to intervention research: The intersection of science and practice to improve health equity.* American Journal of Public Health, 100(S1), S40-S46.  Written by: Jennifer F Tofaeono, Ex Director Photo downloaded from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoans
The American Samoa Alliance was awarded an additional year thru Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue our work thru the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Program to enhance the capacity for sexual violence prevention across the territory Sexual Assault Coalitions, like the Alliance. In the application for the grant, we talked about our previous approach to asking the community to share their stories regarding sexual assault in their villages and homes. The villages we entered are hot spots where the individuals as described as “poor”, where “parents are on drugs” and sadly the victims are primarily children. According to the participants of the previous CDC RPE Talanoa sessions held in American Samoa June 2023- June 2024, participants stated the lack of education and awareness is the primary cause of sexual violence and absence of effective preventative actions. They cited ineffective communication, culture, environmental instability (unsafe spaces, poverty, etc), stigma and shame and personal characteristics of perpetrators (substance abuse, mental health issues, gender-based power) as risk factors. In this second year of funding the Alliance plans to address issues of health equity facing our population in American Samoa by addressing barriers to language and poverty. Using our Samoan language including language for other ethnic groups who reside in American Samoa (Filipino, Chinese, Tongan, etc), where the Alliance will use online resources to help point victims to resources tailored in their cultural needs and language. We will continue to create community outreach and education to increase prevention about sexual violence and teach prevention strategies to promote healthy relationships and empower individuals to intervene safely. This will be done with the assistance of our Communications Manager, Ms. Marilyn HoChing, Communications Manager, Ms Vatau Fanene and Executive Director, Jennifer Tofaeono. We are excited to have you follow our Alliance Team as continue to gather stories with stakeholders to assess their understanding of health equity issues and identify opportunities for collaboration. We will conduct an equity impact assessment of College Students & Youth groups over the age of 18 to assess its potential impact on students of color, low-income students and Fa’afafine youth. We will continue to build trust and rapport by being transparent and show a genuine commitment to collaboration, as we schedule one on one meetings with stakeholders to discuss their concerns and priorities regarding sexual violence prevention. Our focus will be to work together with partners and the community to strengthen our common goals. Lastly, we will plan 4 meetings with government agencies, community leaders, underserved communities and non-profit organizations to collectively define goals and objectives of the sexual violence prevention initiatives. The next year for CDC Rape Prevention Education thru the Alliance and our local partners will be filled with challenging goals, but we are confident in the ability of the collective community to support this project. We ask that you continue to follow us every month as we update you on this project.  Written by Luana Scanlan For the last 14 years, the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence aka Alliance, has engaged the American Samoan community to build capacity to prevent violence and support survivors of violence. From the building of infrastructure to implement grant-funded programs to community education and outreach, the Alliance has grown its capacity to provide culturally specific training and safe spaces in which to engage with people of all ages. For the last six years, the Alliance conducted evaluation activities to document its processes, monitor implementation, and continuously identify opportunities for improvement. The annual Activity Assessment is disseminated to the Board of Directors, and Staff, and made available on the Alliance’s website. Year after year the evaluation results document significant gains in the scope of the Alliance’s service deliverables, reach via media and community activities, and number of partnerships both local and national. The CDC Rape Prevention Education (RPE) grant is the first of its kind awarded to an entity in the Territory. With these funds, the Alliance successfully completed the first RPE Capacity Assessment of community leadership and partners around sexual violence prevention in the Territory. Sex education is not taught in the local school system. Strongly held religious values and pervasive cultural and social stigma surrounding sex and sexual violence are the main challenges to facilitating discussions on the topic. The Alliance has worked around this by focusing its efforts on community-level change in two areas: improving safety of physical spaces and building partnerships through which prevention activities can be implemented. Using a mixed-methods approach, existing validated survey tools and focus group questions were modified, and implementation protocols were developed with a culturally empathetic and equity-focused lens to incorporate diverse spiritual, physical, and intellectual values, and beliefs. Data was collected, analyzed, and reported (see RPE final report) What does rape prevention look like? In American Samoa, it looks like
The majority of prevention efforts focus on social media messaging and village outreach to youth. Whether we see a downturn in the incidence of sexual violence in American Samoa will depend largely upon the effectiveness of the Alliance’s work with young people. Focus group participants express the need to communicate with their children about sex but are unsure of how. They also feel that as adults it is much more difficult to cross the communication barriers raised by stigma and cultural protocol. Community-informed action steps? The second success of the Assessment is an outline of action steps or recommendations that informants suggest boosting prevention efforts:
RPE is comprehensive, inclusive, and collaborative. Changing attitudes requires time and patience. Successful funding for three years of RPE implementation allows the Alliance to act on the Assessment results.   Written by: Luana Scanlan
The Alliance’s Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Program aims to give people knowledge and skills to prevent sexual violence and provide support to those who may have experienced it in their lives. Sexual violence includes, rape, the threat of rape, attempted rape, sexual harassment, sexual coercion and forced sexual contact. Anyone can be a victim or violator regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or ability. Preventing sexual violence requires that we not make assumptions or generalizations about people in our community – our ethnic, church, work, family, friend, and home communities. Each person experiences and thinks about sexual behavior in unique ways. Do not assume. Do not think everyone of a specific gender, religion, ethnicity, etc. is the same. You can practice three behaviors to prevent sexual violence, which means making sure that it never happens in the first place. 1. CONSENT - Maliega e Auai A person gives consent when he/she/they feel free to say how they really feel about something, and without feeling pressured into doing something that they don’t want to do. There are three times in particular, where people may not have the ability to provide consent:
4 steps to consent First, understand what you are comfortable with. Second, ask the person you are with the same thing. It’s best to have direct conversations so that there’s no room for confusion. It can be simple questions like, ‘Are you okay with kissing?’, or ‘Do you feel safe in our being together like this?’ Third, understand what you are comfortable with. Fourth, practice your ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ to build confidence in standing up for what you want. Listening is an important part of consent. When listening be aware of body language as well as what is being said out loud. If someone is saying 'Maybe', 'I’m not sure', starts backing away, is staying really still or being silent they are not saying yes - they are not giving consent. Consent may look and sound like: · Yes! · I really want to... · I want you/this/that · This feels right · I’m okay with this/that Sex without consent is sexual violence…Someone staying silent or saying maybe is not consent. 2. RESPECT – Fa’aaloalo Respect can look different in all the different relationships that we have. First and foremost is respect for yourself – your rights, values, safety. Respect also means never forcing, pressuring or guilting someone into doing something they don’t want to do. Asking for consent is respectful. 3. SUPPORT - Lagolago People heal from sexual violence in different ways and at different speeds. For some people sometimes it is about getting through one day at a time. Supporting those at risk will prevent violence from happening in the first place. Finally, preventing sexual violence involves reporting what you see and experience in ways that you feel do not put you in harm’s way.  Written by: Luana Scanlan
In 2023, the Alliance was blessed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assess its capacity to design, implement, and evaluate activities to prevent rape and sexual assault. The following are findings from the assessment activities which included community surveys, group and individual talanoa, and reviews of the Alliance’s past activities. The RPE Project documented insufficient availability of sexual violence primary prevention efforts in the community. For example, group and interview participants were given the CDC definition of primary prevention, then asked to describe activities in the community that would meet this definition. Every time this was asked the facilitator/interviewer was met with silence. However, there is evidence of: • sufficient stakeholder commitment to, and knowledge of, primary prevention, • comprehensive understanding of community partnerships and collaboration efforts, • and the need for culturally appropriate primary prevention efforts that incorporate the fa’aSamoa (Samoan worldview and sense of self) and faith-based values. The Assessment produced a summary of the Alliance’s resources to establish effective rape prevention program activities, evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts, coordinate the allocation of resources, and increase Coalition and community readiness to develop and implement primary prevention strategies through training and outreach. Assessment findings include: To ‘a large extent’ the Alliance promotes health equity through its work by encouraging the removal of root causes and conditions of sexual violence. The Alliance collaborates with partners to collect data that identifies appropriate target populations and the needs and challenges experienced by them to ensure cultural competency and inclusion in all its activities. ‘To a large extent’, the Alliance uses data to prioritize planning and implementation, and ‘to a very large extent’ it uses stakeholder feedback to modify its work when challenges are identified. The Alliance’s foundational partnerships, grounded in relationships and purpose, are in place to meet current and future RPE primary prevention and health equity work needs. The Alliance and its partners demonstrate a strong propensity for leadership that incorporates equity and prioritizes primary prevention of sexual violence. The Alliance’s leadership is ‘to a large’ or ‘very large’ extent committed to advancing health equity. One of the greatest challenges that emerged is getting community members to ‘own’ the issues and participate in the planning work towards solutions so that there is trust in the process and value in the partnerships that are forged. In 2024, the Alliance modified its mission to become more inclusive by restating the target population as ‘all individuals and communities in American Samoa’ replacing the prior description of ‘American Samoans’. By widening its scope and welcoming all communities to participate, the Alliance can work towards co-creating a larger proverbial ‘table’ to seat more members, and include diverse interests and perspectives.  Written by Luana Scanlan In 2023, the Alliance was blessed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assess its capacity to design, implement, and evaluate activities to prevent rape and sexual assault. The following are findings from the assessment activities which included community surveys, group and individual talanoa, and reviews of the Alliance’s past activities. The RPE Project documented insufficient availability of sexual violence primary prevention efforts in the community. For example, group and interview participants were given the CDC definition of primary prevention, then asked to describe activities in the community that would meet this definition. Every time this was asked the facilitator/interviewer was met with silence. However, there is evidence of: • sufficient stakeholder commitment to, and knowledge of, primary prevention, • comprehensive understanding of community partnerships and collaboration efforts, • and the need for culturally appropriate primary prevention efforts that incorporate the fa’aSamoa (Samoan worldview and sense of self) and faith-based values. The Assessment produced a summary of the Alliance’s resources to establish effective rape prevention program activities, evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts, coordinate the allocation of resources, and increase Coalition and community readiness to develop and implement primary prevention strategies through training and outreach. Assessment findings include: To ‘a large extent’ the Alliance promotes health equity through its work by encouraging the removal of root causes and conditions of sexual violence. The Alliance collaborates with partners to collect data that identifies appropriate target populations and the needs and challenges experienced by them to ensure cultural competency and inclusion in all its activities. ‘To a large extent’, the Alliance uses data to prioritize planning and implementation, and ‘to a very large extent’ it uses stakeholder feedback to modify its work when challenges are identified. The Alliance’s foundational partnerships, grounded in relationships and purpose, are in place to meet current and future RPE primary prevention and health equity work needs. The Alliance and its partners demonstrate a strong propensity for leadership that incorporates equity and prioritizes primary prevention of sexual violence. The Alliance’s leadership is ‘to a large’ or ‘very large’ extent committed to advancing health equity. One of the greatest challenges that emerged is getting community members to ‘own’ the issues and participate in the planning work towards solutions so that there is trust in the process and value in the partnerships that are forged. In 2024, the Alliance modified its mission to become more inclusive by restating the target population as ‘all individuals and communities in American Samoa’ replacing the prior description of ‘American Samoans’. By widening its scope and welcoming all communities to participate, the Alliance can work towards co-creating a larger proverbial ‘table’ to seat more members, and include diverse interests and perspectives.  Written by: Luana Scanlan In 2023, the Alliance was blessed with funding from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assess its capacity to design, implement, and evaluate activities to prevent rape and sexual assault. The following are findings from the assessment activities which included community surveys, group and individual talanoa, and reviews of the Alliance’s past activities. The RPE Project documented insufficient availability of sexual violence primary prevention efforts in the community. For example, group and interview participants were given the CDC definition of primary prevention, then asked to describe activities in the community that would meet this definition. Every time this was asked the facilitator/interviewer was met with silence. However, there is evidence of: • sufficient stakeholder commitment to, and knowledge of, primary prevention, • comprehensive understanding of community partnerships and collaboration efforts, and the need for culturally appropriate primary prevention efforts that incorporate the fa'aSamoa (Samoan worldview and sense of self) and faith-based values. The Assessment produced a summary of the Alliance’s resources to establish effective rape prevention program activities, evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts, coordinate the allocation of resources, and increase Coalition and community readiness to develop and implement primary prevention strategies through training and outreach. Assessment findings include: To ‘a large extent’ the Alliance promotes health equity through its work by encouraging the removal of root causes and conditions of sexual violence. The Alliance collaborates with partners to collect data that identifies appropriate target populations and the needs and challenges experienced by them to ensure cultural competency and inclusion in all its activities. ‘To a large extent’, the Alliance uses data to prioritize planning and implementation, and ‘to a very large extent’ it uses stakeholder feedback to modify its work when challenges are identified. The Alliance’s foundational partnerships, grounded in relationships and purpose, are in place to meet current and future RPE primary prevention and health equity work needs. The Alliance and its partners demonstrate a strong propensity for leadership that incorporates equity and prioritizes primary prevention of sexual violence. The Alliance’s leadership is ‘to a large’ or ‘very large’ extent committed to advancing health equity. One of the greatest challenges that emerged is getting community members to ‘own’ the issues and participate in the planning work towards solutions so that there is trust in the process and value in the partnerships that are forged. In 2024, the Alliance modified its mission to become more inclusive by restating the target population as ‘all individuals and communities in American Samoa’ replacing the prior description of ‘American Samoans’. By widening its scope and welcoming all communities to participate, the Alliance can work towards co-creating a larger proverbial ‘table’ to seat more members, and include diverse interests and perspectives. |
|
|
OUR LOCATIONS
Tafuna |
Nu'uuli |
Click to set custom HTML