Keene State Launches Student Resource Through U.S. Department of Justice Grant

Keene State College’s focus on wellbeing of students gained support from a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2019. The competitive funding was issued by the Office on Violence Against Women to expand collaboration and build upon existing initiatives and resources dedicated to keeping our students and community safe. A Coordinated Community Response Team consisting of college and Keene community members was formed to deliver on the grant. In July 2021, Keene State finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with community partner Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention: Crisis and Prevention Center, for continued direct services and collaboration.

A new Sexual Violence Prevention Virtual Resource Center was launched in time for the return of students to campus for the fall semester. The student-focused, survivor-centered web resource allows users to quickly and easily discover how and where to get help for themselves or a friend, find access to sexual health resources that are available on campus and in the community, and learn how to become involved in sexual violence prevention and trainings on campus, and more.

“Access to information around the clock is a critical piece of prevention and support. We were eager to launch the resource center to help our students in their search for help. This resource center is one important concept that we have made into a reality through this grant,” said Keene State Office on Violence Against Women Grant Director and Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist Megan Grove. “Students have also provided their thoughts on college policies that exist to ensure they best support them. Trainings and educational efforts have been very successful. We are certainly not done yet, and look forward to continuing our work.”

For more information about the OVW Grant and the CCRT or to become involved in grant initiatives, contact OVW Grant Director, Megan Grove at megan.grove@keene.edu.