About the Program

The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center has been providing prevention and education services to the Monterey Peninsula and North Monterey County community since 1973. In 2007, we became the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center and provide services throughout the county. We provide information to middle school, high school and college aged students. MCRCC educators are able to provide these presentations free of charge to local public schools through grants received from the California Department of Health and Human Services. Presentations are also available for private schools and other groups for a reasonable fee.

Seventh Grade

The seventh grade presentation focuses primarily on sexual harassment. The presentation takes place once a year during one class period and ranges from 45-60 minutes in length. This presentation is informative and educational as it provides in-depth demonstrations of appropriate and inappropriate behavior amongst the pre-teen community. Due to the subject's importance, several schools have asked educators from the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center to present twice a year (sometimes even four times a year); once at the beginning of the fall semester and again at the start of the spring semester. The outline of the presentation is as follows:

- Defining Sexual Harassment: Any behavior or any action of a sexual nature that is unwanted and unwelcomed.

- Three types of sexual harassment: Physical, Visual, Verbal

- Examples of the different types of sexual harassment are discussed.

- The topic of flirting is talked about extensively in relation to harassment and where a line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior may be crossed.

- Title IX is discussed and students are informed that sexual harassment is against the law and that it's a form of discrimination.

- Students receive tips on what to do if they are being harassed like: letting the harasser know that their behavior is inappropriate, if the harasser doesn't stop, students are encouraged to get an adult involved (i.e. a parent, teacher, counselor, etc.).

The presentation concludes with a 15-20 minute video that demonstrates how some students deal with harassment situation.

All presentations are age sensitive.

Eighth Grade

The eighth grade presentation takes place during one class period. Presentations can range anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes depending on the bell schedule for any given school.

- Presentations begin by describing MCRCC services and we make a point of mentioning our confidentiality policy.

- Sexual assault is defined and we talk briefly about how women are not the only people that can be raped.

- We define and spend some time talking about consent.

- We mention that the majority of rapes are acquaintance rapes.

- FBI statistics of rape and sexual violence are discussed.

- We emphasize that rape is about POWER AND CONTROL.

- We talk about the importance of communication.

- Prevention tips are discussed with students.

- Finally, we talk about what to do if you or someone you know has been raped and how students can help a friend/family member who has been raped.

Most presentations are followed with an age and subject appropriate movie when time permits. Because we feel that dialogue and participation is very important, we may not always show the movie that reiterates the presentation.

High School

The high school presentation is approximately an hour to an hour and a half long; however we cater to the time allotted. Ideally, we like to separate the males and females when this presentation is conducted. We have a male presenter who presents the My Strength program to the males and a female presenter who presents the rape prevention education presentation to the females. The typical presentation is as follows:

- Sexual Assault is referred to as an umbrella term because it includes: Sexual Battery, Molest, Incest, Rape.

- Sexual assault, violence and rape terms are defined.

- Rape is defined in several different types: Stranger rape, Date/Acquaintance Rape, Statutory Rape

- Consent is explained.

- We reiterate FBI prevalence statistics and how alcohol/drugs plays a major role in most rape cases.

- The importance of communication is explained.

- Time is spent talking about the expectations we have about gender roles and identities and how these images might reinforce negative messages we see and hear in the media.

- Prevention tips are explored.

- Finally, we talk about what to do if you or someone you know has been assaulted.

The goal in each of our presentations is to educate individuals about the prevalence of sexual assault, rape and sexual harassment in our community. Whether we speak at a high school, community college class, public event or place of employment, we tailor presentations to meet the specific needs of the group. A talk may be 10 minutes or 3 hours depending on the audience's needs and interests. Junior high and high school presentations typically last 45-60 minutes, with schools allotting 1-2 class periods to MCRCC speakers. The majority of presentations are free of charge.

While sexual assault issues have often been viewed as "women's issues," we also address the reality of male victimization. Males often have difficulty disclosing the details of an assault because of the additional stigma of being male and sexually assaulted. Males as survivors are not the only ways men are affected by sexual violence.

If you don't already know someone who has been a victim of this crime, at some point in your life you probably will. Also, remember that many survivors never disclose their assault to anyone. Someone in your life may have been sexually assaulted and has not talked to you about it.

It is our goal at the MCRCC to break the silence surrounding sexual assault and take concrete action to prevent sexual violence within our community.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Patterson at
(831)373-3955 or (831) 771-0411 or by emailing Cynthia at cynthia@mtryrapecrisis.org.

Top of Page