injury and violence prevention (ivp) branch

Sexual Violence Prevention

Sensitive Content Warning: This program page contains information about sexual violence and rape.

The California Department of Public Health does not provide direct services for victims of sexual violence (SV). If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are being abused, need resources, and support, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Visit our Find Help page for more information.

Through a population-based allocation to each state by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (CDPH/IVPB) administers the funds for the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program to local organizations across the state through a competitive application process.

CDPH supports evaluation, program administration, and provision of technical assistance and training for local organizations. The RPE Program prioritizes primary prevention at the broader community and societal levels (as opposed to prevention services for individuals), to shift social norms, policies, and practices to prevent SV.

Mission

To end cycles of SV and prevent victimization and perpetration by addressing root causes through community engagement and public health approaches.

Vision

Striving to build healthy and safe communities throughout California where SV, and related forms of violence, does not occur.

What is Sexual Violence?

The CDC defines sexual violence as sexual activity without obtaining consent, consent given freely, or with someone unable to consent or refuse, including “rape" or “sexual assault."^[2] This type of SV can be perpetrated by the following (See Figure 2):^[2]

Figure 2: Potential Perpetrators of SV[1]

Sexual Violence includes:[2]

Forced or alcohol/drug facilitated penetration of a victim.
Forced or alcohol/drug facilitated incidents in which the victim was made to penetrate a perpetrator or someone else.
Non-physically pressured unwanted penetration.
Intentional sexual touching, or non-contact acts of a sexual nature.
When a perpetrator forces or coerces a victim to engage in sexual acts with a third party.^[3]

The consequences of SV have a range of implications including physical, psychological, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts(Figure 3).^[2] Chronic issues may arise, such as:

Figure 3. Health Impacts of SV^[2]

These health and economic consequences affect individuals, communities, and society overall, making it a significant public health issue to address. SV is preventable.

What is Sexual Violence Prevention?

SV prevention is the effort made by public health and social work to stop rape and sexual violence before it occurs[3]

CDPH’s RPE Program prioritizes societal-level and primary prevention approaches to preventing SV.^[4] To create the most structural, long-lasting change, the RPE Program prioritizes societal-level by aiming to create policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change to create safer environments for Californians.

CDPH funds sixteen local rape crisis centers and community-based organizations to implement local primary prevention strategies. Grantees implement and evaluate SV prevention community/societal-level strategies using community engagement approaches.

2024-2029 RPE Program Partners

RPE Programs in California funded by CDPH, prioritize primary prevention by addressing community or societal- level approaches. Programming in California is based on CDC’s Sexual Violence Resource for Action.[4]

Evaluation: The RPE Program evaluation efforts are evaluated by the University of California, Berkeley.

Technical Assistance and Support:Injury and Violence Prevention Branch.

RPE Program Advisory Group: The RPE Program is guided by the RPE Program Advisory Group to shape California’s initiatives for SV prevention and awareness raising efforts.

For more information, please contact rapeprevention@cdph.ca.gov.

References:

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024, January 23). About Sexual Violence.
https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/index.html

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016). Sexual Violence Prevention Resource for Action. https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/SV-Prevention-Resource_508.pdf

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2025, May 28). Program: Rape Prevention and Education Program. https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/programs/index.html

[4] Basile, K.C., DeGue, S., Jones, K., Freire, K., Dills, J., Smith, S.G., Raiford, J.L. (2016). Sexual Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/SV-Prevention-Resource_508.pdf