Bringing in the Bystander was developed and evaluated with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Justice. It was developed in collaboration with researchers and practitioners, as well as significant input from target audiences by Prevention Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Bringing in the Bystander® “emphasizes a bystander intervention approach and assumes that everyone has a role to play in ending violence against women. In addition to the prevention goal, the program has a research component which seeks to measure the effectiveness of the prevention program with different constituencies.” The program aims to equip participants with skills necessary to identify problematic/dangerous behavior, develop empathy for victims, practice safe and effective methods of intervention, and commit to taking action as a bystander.

Theories of community readiness to engage in prevention, community responsibility and bystander behavior emphasize the importance of a larger community response toward preventing sexual and intimate partner violence. The program focuses on expanding this awareness to the larger community by not solely focusing on intervening on potential victims or perpetrators. Instead, the program provides groups of individuals in the community with the skills and knowledge to intervene by interrupting situations before or during an incident, speaking out against social norms supportive of sexual and intimate partner violence, and being an ally of those victimized.

Bringing in the Bystander is informed by early social psychology research on bystander intervention that has identified both the situational and individual characteristics that influence whether or not a person will intervene in a potentially dangerous or dangerous situation. Current research on social norms serve also serve as the foundation for strategies to motivate bystanders to change community norms to support safe and respectful environments.

When developing Bringing in the Bystander, we carefully considered the program’s impact on members of the community who are survivors and secondary survivors. Through scientific evaluation, we have been able to demonstrate that the program does not exacerbate victim-blaming. Instead, the program builds empathy in participants and dispels myths about sexual and relationship violence. Additionally, the program normalizes getting help and support, acknowledges a range of survivor experiences, and present the perspectives of multiple survivors from diverse backgrounds.

Soteria Solutions helps universities and colleges build capacity to comply with VAWA by partnering with institutions to develop strategies, create comprehensive prevention programs and implement programs that meet the unique needs of each campus community.

Soteria Solutions helps universities and colleges build capacity to comply with the recent changes to Title IX and the Campus SaVE Act by partnering with institutions to develop strategies, create comprehensive prevention programs and implement programs that meet the unique needs of each campus community.

In multiple evaluations, Bringing in the Bystander has proven to be effective in increasing participants’ knowledge of sexual assault and bystander intervention; willingness to intervene to stop sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking; and self-reported bystander behaviors. The program also decreases participants’ acceptance of rape myths. Our researchers have developed the leading bystander intervention evaluation measures and we can work with you to evaluate the effectiveness of Bringing in the Bystander on your campus. Peer reviewed publications on the efficacy of Bringing in the Bystander can be found at http://cola.unh.edu/prevention-innovations-research-center/peer-reviewed-publications

• Peterson, K., Sharps, P., Banyard, V., Powers, R. A., Kaukinen, C., Gross, D., Decker, M. R., Baatz, C., Campbell, C. (2016). An Evaluation of Two Dating Violence Prevention Programs on a College Campus. Journal of Interpersonal Violence Online, 1-26.

• Moynihan. M. M., Banyard, V. L., Cares, A. C., Potter, S. J., Williams, L. M. & Stapleton, J. G. (2015). Encouraging Responses in Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention: What Program Effects Remain One Year Later? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30, 110-132.

• Cares, A. C., Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., Williams, L. M., Potter, S. J., & Stapleton, J. G. (2014). Changing Attitudes about Being a Bystander to Violence: Translating an In-person Education Program to a New Campus. Violence Against Women An International Journal. Online first.

• Moynihan, M. M. & Banyard, V. L. (2011). Educating bystanders helps prevent sexual violence and reduce backlash. Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, 3, 293-304.

• Moynihan, M. M., Banyard, V. L., Arnold, J. S., Eckstein, R. P., & Stapleton, J. G. (2011). Sisterhood may be powerful in for reducing sexual and intimate partner violence: An evaluation of the Bringing in the Bystander in-person program with sorority members. Violence Against Women, 17, 703-719.

• Banyard, V. L., Eckstein, R. P., & Moynihan, M. M. (2010). Sexual violence prevention: The role of stages of change. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25, 111-135.

• Moynihan, M. M., Banyard, V. L. , Arnold, J. S. , Eckstein, R. P. and Stapleton, J. G. (2010). Engaging intercollegiate athletes in preventing and intervening in sexual and intimate partner violence, Journal of American College Health, 59, 197-204.

• Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., & Crossman, M. T. (2009). Reducing sexual violence on campus: The role of student leaders as empowered bystanders. Journal of College Student Development, 50, 446-457.

• Banyard, V. L. (2008). Measurement and correlates of pro-social bystander behavior: The case of interpersonal violence. Violence and Victims, 23, 83-97.

• Banyard, V. L., Moynihan, M. M., & Plante, E. G. (2007). Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: an experimental evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 463-481.

There is a curriculum license fee, good for 5 years, that includes 5 copies of the facilitator guide and two versions of the PowerPoint. Attendance at a regional training requires the organization to own the license and the participant to pay an attendance fee.  Contact Jennifer Scrafford for more details info@soteriasolutions.org

Target Institution Types: Includes Rape Crisis Center, YMCA, community partners with college and universities

Age Group: Program can be adapted for other college age populations, a high school version of the program is also available

Audience: We have adapted versions for the workplace and high schools

Customization: We allow campuses to modify sections of the curriculum to meet specific needs. There are also several points in the curriculum where we encourage institutions to think about adding specifics about your campus and your target populations. We can also provide consultation to you on how to specifically adapt the curriculum for diverse populations.

Data Collection: Although we can work with institutions to collect this information or simply provide the evaluation measures for institutions to do this themselves. We encourage institutions to collect date during pre- and post- training evaluations. We can provide evaluation measures for institutions to do this themselves or we offer consultation of how institutions can customize this data collection.

Additional Prevention Services: Soteria Solutions provides new approaches to prevent sexual and interpersonal violence and harassment. We work with you to activate bystanders at all levels, to create lasting change and build a safe, respectful, and sustainable culture in your organization or school. We help universities, colleges, high schools, workplaces and their partners build capacity to create comprehensive prevention programs and implement evidence-based prevention strategies that meet the unique needs of each community. We offer Bringing in the Bystander High School Curriculum, available in seven modules and meant to fit into a high school schedule. We also offer an app called uSafeUS, which places sexual assault resources into the hands of survivors and their allies at colleges and universities across the U.S. Finally, we offer Know Your Power®, a social marketing campaign that allows users to customize images and boost bystander behavior. The campaign consists of a series of images which portray realistic and thought-provoking scenarios that highlight the important role all members of the community have in ending sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.