What is Prevention?

Levels of Prevention

Violence prevention work occurs on three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Each level addresses violence from a different angle, but they all work together to provide comprehensive prevention efforts. Below is a definition of each level of prevention and an example of the work SAVE does at each level!

  • Primary Prevention: 
    • Definition: Addresses the origin of violence before it occurs
    • Example: Learning healthy relationship skills during a presentation with SAVE’s Community Education team
  • Secondary Prevention:
    • Definition: Addresses the impacts of violence directly following an incident and aims to prevent future violence
    • Example: Calling SAVE’s 24/7 crisis line (510-794-6055) after experiencing harm
  • Tertiary Prevention:
    • Definition: 1) Addresses the longstanding impacts following violence 2) Working with people who’ve caused harm to prevent future violence
    • Example: Attending one of SAVE’s support groups for survivors of domestic violence

Sources: VetoViolence (vetoviolence.cdc.gov), Prevent IPV (preventipv.org)

Violence Prevention As Social Justice

We live in a culture where violence is normalized. Many forms of violence have become sources of social justice movements. Domestic violence is no different! We can use the Iceberg of Violence to recognize how harm stems from the oppressive beliefs we hold about various groups of people. As a result, certain individuals are more likely to experience violence.

Iceberg of Violence (1) (1)

Using Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality, we can understand how social justice movements are connected, meaning the goal of one is not fulfilled unless the goal of others is. The same is true for domestic/intimate partner violence prevention and other social justice issues!

What Can You Do?

Support Youth in Learning Healthy Relationship Skills

Approximately 80% of the youth our Community Education team visits in schools report that an adult has never talked to them about how to have a healthy dating relationship. We invite adults to learn healthy relationship skills and share them with the youth in their lives! You can visit the Healthy Relationships and Am I In A Healthy Relationship? tabs on SAVE’s Community Education website to learn more. Love is Respect is also a great resource.

Know the Resources Available

Familiarizing yourself with the resources available in your community for survivors of domestic/intimate partner and teen dating violence can allow you to better support someone who discloses an experience of harm to you. Many agencies also host community events that you can attend to learn more about violence prevention. Follow @saveagainstdv on Instagram to hear when we are hosting an event! During Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month every February, Team Stronger Than You Think (STYT), a youth empowerment group supported by SAVE’s Community Education team, hosts Symbiosis, which is a summit that empowers youth to learn healthy relationship skills and end violence in their communities. Symbiosis in 2025 will be hosted at the Fremont Main Library and is free to all! Stay connected for more details on the event. 

Support Policies and Funding for Prevention 

Consider advocating for legislation and funding at the local, state, and federal levels that support survivors and the work to end violence. Examples include attending city council meetings to advocate for violence prevention efforts and asking your representatives what they’re doing to prevent domestic violence and how you can support those efforts. Prevention efforts at the individual, community, and systemic levels are all needed!

Host or Attend a Workshop

If you believe your school or workplace would benefit from workshops on topics such as healthy relationship skills and supporting survivors, advocate for your administration/leadership team to invite your local domestic violence agency to conduct a presentation. To contact SAVE’s Community Education team, you can complete the Request Our Services form on our website. SAVE is committed to meeting your community’s needs and can work with you to decide on the most impactful topic for your community.

Prevention Tips

Stay tuned for more tips on how you can prevent violence in your relationships and communities! We announce these in our quarterly newsletter and will also post them here.

Healthy Relationships Skills

Check out SAVE's monthly LinkedIn posts about healthy relationship skills! 

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