Vines honored for sexual assault prevention work

WORLAND ? Washakie County Attorney's Victim/Witness Coordinator Bob Vines is one of 35 nationwide honorees for their work toward ending sexual violence.

Vines was nominated for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's (NSRVC) 2018 Visionary Voice Award by the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (WCADVSA). Specifically, he was recognized for his work implementing Coaching Boys into Men and Athletes as Leaders across Wyoming. The programs utilize high school sports teams as a catalyst for culture change in the prevention of gender-based violence.

"It is because of Bob's leadership and steadfast commitment that the Coaching Boys into Men and Athletes as Leaders programs have been so widely well-received and implemented in communities across the state," the WCADVSA stated in a press release Tuesday. "Wyoming is fortunate to have someone with such passion driving these efforts forward."

The awards are issued each April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month by NSVRC, the leading non-profit organization in providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. This year, Vines was one of only three men on the list of honorees that include #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke.

"We're thrilled to honor this incredibly deserving group for their tireless efforts to support victims of sexual violence and change the culture in their communities," said NSVRC Chief Executive Officer Karen Baker. "Collectively, these 35 recipients have embraced their voices in a way that will lead to lasting change and help end sexual violence once and for all."

According to his biography that was attached to the NSVRC press release, Vines has been known to "drive four hours to train just one coach if it means that an entire athletic team has the opportunity to participate in the Coaching Boys into Men or Athletes as Leaders programs. What started out as a single strategy with one high school football team has grown to over 175 people trained (coaches, administrators and advocates) representing 14 Wyoming high schools and 39 different athletic teams."

Washakie County Attorney John Worrall said, "The County Attorney's Office is very proud of Bob's award. We know how enthusiastic and tireless he is when pursuing these matters. The award is rightly deserved."

Vines said he was thrilled to be among this year's recipients. "I think it speaks well for the partnership between crime victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault advocates and school districts across the state. Culture change is a collaborative effort, we provide the nudge but the kids really provide the change."

Vines points to the national conversation on gender-based harassment and violence as the beginning of big changes in the perception of these crimes. "It is beginning to bring more men into the conversation. It is a topic that is easy for good men to ignore, and then you might see your sister's #MeToo post and that truly changes everything.

"We are already starting to see big changes even it at the Wyoming State Legislature with its support of laws that allow judges to extend protection orders and increase penalties for domestic violence and stalking charges," he said. "But the biggest addition has to be the passage of Erin's Law."

Erin's Law will require school districts to provide sexual assault prevention education for students, staff training to identify child sexual abuse warning signs, and provide educational material on sexual abuse to parents.

"So now the focus is going to be how to bring those lessons we've been teaching on the practice field into the classroom," said Vines.