Topic: Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence
Target Population: Young Adults, Adolescents
Sector: Community-Based
Military Sector: Army
This program is for students on college campuses.
Bringing in the Bystander® (BITB) College, a community-based program, is designed to teach safe, prosocial methods for bystander mediation before, during, and after situations in which risk for sexual assault may be prevalent.
An internal randomized controlled trial (RCT) of BITB College found that participants showed significantly increased bystander efficacy and knowledge and reduced rape myth acceptance. Bystander attitudes were also significantly improved. This study examined two versions of the program: a 90-minute, one-session version and a 4.5-hour, three-session version. Those who participated in the 4.5-hour version had significantly greater increases in knowledge and positive bystander attitudes and significantly lower rape myth acceptance as compared to those who participated in the 90-minute version. A second RCT of the 4.5-hour version found significantly increased bystander efficacy, intention to help, and improvement in bystander attitudes. This study did not find a significant difference between the experimental and control conditions on rape myth acceptance or on actual behavior. A third internal RCT compared participants who were exposed to the 4.5-hour version of Bringing in the Bystander plus the Know Your Power social-marketing campaign to those who were exposed to just Know Your Power. One year after program completion, those in the treatment group demonstrated higher levels of bystander behavior related to helping friends compared to those who were exposed to only the social-marketing campaign.
BITB College intends to teach safe bystander intervention methods. The program is implemented by one male and one female peer facilitator in single-sex group settings. Session topics include the following:
Sessions include role-playing and generating bystander plans that help participants consider how they could intervene safely in an aggressive situation. Participants also sign a pledge to be active bystanders in their communities.
BITB College has been delivered to over 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The program has been adapted for other populations, including the military, and has been evaluated in a pilot sample of members of the United States Army stationed at European installations.
This program is implemented by one male and one female facilitator who are not required to have a specific educational or experiential background. Training is optional, but it is recommended. A Facilitator’s Guide is included in the 3-year curriculum license and can be used to implement the program without additional training. An on-site or off-site 7-hour (1-day) train-the-trainer session costs $475 per person. A 7-hour (2-day) virtual training costs $400 per session. Please use details in the Contact section for more information on training.
Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting facilitators and offering training, acquiring participant buy-in, obtaining school or community buy-in and consent, realizing difficult topics will be discussed, and finding time and space for program implementation.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing BITB College, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
This program is delivered in 2 to 2.5 hours.
The program includes two hard copies of the BITB Facilitator’s Guide; electronic access to the curriculum delivered; and access to the online forum. There are three levels of licenses to purchase. The Basic license includes all previously listed materials for a 3-year license and costs $1,950. The Bundle license includes the Basic license plus training for one person and costs $2,350. The Partner license includes the Basic level plus one copy of the Implementation Guide and additional support including videos, webinars, tutorials, and toolkits. The 3-year license for the Partner level costs $2,250.
To move BITB College to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact Soteria Solutions by mail 8 Jenkins Court, Suite 401, Durham, NH 03824, phone 1-603-815-4190, email info@soteriasolutions.org, or visit https://www.soteriasolutions.org/contact-soteria-solutions
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