Green Dot Training: No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something.
Executive Director Dorinda Edmisten and Prevention Education Specialist Rebecca Dotson of the Ozark Rape Crisis Center (ORCC) visited CHCA Sept. 24 to present a technical assistance session called Green Dot: A Bystander Intervention Program.
ORCC is a nonprofit organization concerned with the serious problem of sexual violence in Arkansas communities. It has three offices (Clarksville, Russellville, and Harrison) and serves a nine-county area. ORCC’s mission is to eliminate sexual violence through service, advocacy, and education.
Green Dot is a nationally recognized violence prevention program that began on college campuses with an aim to prevent sexual assault, dating violence and abuse, domestic violence and abuse, stalking, and child abuse. The idea is that if everyone commits to individual responsibility, the combined effect creates safer communities.
“A dangerous person or situation is a red dot on a map. Green dots are the solution to the problem,” Dotson said. “The goal is to get more green dots than red dots. The more green dot actions, words, and behaviors we have, the safer our communities are.”
Edmisten and Dotson talked about proactive and reactive Green Dot methods. Reactive green dots are responses to a specific situation that's already unfolding. Proactive green dots happen before anything is wrong.
“Proactive green dots are the way in which we change how the community thinks,” Edmisten said.
Edmisten went through basic steps of intervention:
1. Recognize there is a problem
2. Identify barriers to intervening
3. Intervene
4. Strengthen positive community norms. Decide how you will be a green dot.
While it may feel overwhelming, the trainers reminded participants that “no one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something.”
To learn more about ORCC, visit https://www.ozarkrapecrisiscenter.org/.
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