Grant boosts CADA's prevention education

Aug. 13--MANKATO -- The Committee Against Domestic Abuse is most known for its shelter and advocacy, but a recently secured grant is geared toward expanding the nonprofit's prevention education.

CADA recently received $225,000 from the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, or MNCASA, to be used over a three-year period.

The funding comes from the state's budget through the state coalition and allows CADA to design preventive programming in schools.

CADA Executive Director Jason Mack said the nonprofit already works with Mankato Area Public Schools on education programs, but the funding will bolster such efforts.

"The unique thing about this grant now is it allows us to devote resources only to prevention education," he said. "That's really exciting for us because oftentimes it is a challenging thing to find funding for."

The funding enables CADA to hire a staffer solely focusing on educational outreach. The programming will be known as Prevention Initiatives in Communities and Schools, of PICS, and will specifically target 13- to 20-year-olds.

MNCASA Associate Director Hannah Laniado said the goal is to change behaviors among youth so sexual violence doesn't happen in the first place.

"The education is an important component in shifting that culture and working toward reducing violence and stopping violence before it begins," she said.

The program will be ongoing rather than a one-off educational event. Mack said CADA will look for further funding to keep PICS going once the grant runs dry.

"It really allows you to establish and strengthen this program," he said. "At the same time, we want to take the program and make it sustainable for the future."

Follow Brian Arola @BrianArolaMFP.

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