At a glance
Learn about CDC's Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program including current program activities and state contact information.
CDC's RPE Program
The RPE program works to prevent sexual violence by providing funding to state and territorial health departments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and state, territorial, and tribal sexual assault coalitions. The RPE program recipients work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders including educational institutions, rape crisis centers, community organizations, and other state agency partners to guide the implementation and evaluation of their state sexual violence prevention efforts.
CDC supports this work by providing tools, training, and technical assistance to RPE programs to promote the implementation and evaluation of programs, practices, and policies based on the best available evidence to prevent sexual violence.
The RPE program is authorized through the Violence Against Women Act, passed by Congress in 1994 and most recently reauthorized in 2022. In 2016, CDC received additional funding to support program evaluation research on programs implemented through RPE.
What guides the RPE Program
Primary prevention—stopping sexual violence before it begins—is the focus of the RPE program. Program activities are guided by a set of principles that include:
- Preventing the first-time occurrence of sexual violence.
- Reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors linked to sexual violence perpetration and victimization.
- Using the best available evidence when planning, implementing, and evaluating prevention programs.
- Implementing comprehensive strategies that address individual, relationship, community, and societal factors.
- Analyzing state and community data, such as health and safety data, to inform program decisions and monitor trends.
- Evaluating prevention efforts and using the results to improve future program plans.
The RPE program encourages the development of comprehensive prevention strategies using as guiding frameworks, the public health approach, and the social-ecological model. These frameworks guide the recipients to implement a range of activities to address the ways individual, relationship, community, and societal factors impact sexual violence.
This approach is more likely to prevent sexual violence across a lifetime than any single intervention and is also more likely to benefit the largest number of people and reduce sexual violence.
Current activities
CDC's current RPE projects include Rape Prevention and Education: Using the Best Available Evidence for Sexual Violence Prevention, Rape Prevention and Education: Enhancing Capacity for Sexual Violence Prevention Across State and Territory Sexual Assault Coalitions, and Rape Prevention and Education: Enhancing Capacity for Sexual Violence Prevention among Tribal Sexual Assault Coalitions. These projects require RPE program recipients to collaborate with state health departments and other applicable federal, state, tribal, and local entities engaged in sexual violence prevention to address social and structural determinants of health at the community and societal levels of the social-ecological model to plan, implement, and evaluate sexual violence prevention strategies in alignment with the the Sexual Violence Prevention Resource for Action, formerly known as a technical package.
This project places an increased emphasis on implementing community and societal-level strategies that create protective environments and provide opportunities to empower and support girls and women.
Evidence-based examples of community and societal level strategies include:
- Conducting hot-spot mapping and improving safety and monitoring in schools.
- Establishing and consistently applying school and workplace policies.
- Working with communities to improve safety and health in the built environment.
- Ensuring women have adequate work supports such as safe and affordable childcare and paid family leave policies.
- Improving educational and leadership opportunities for girls and women.
State sexual assault coalitions that are eligible for RPE funding
The term state sexual assault coalition, sometimes referred to as a state sexual violence coalition, is defined by the Violence Against Women Act as "a program determined by the Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Public Health Service Act." In order to be eligible for RPE funds, CDC must approve or certify the state sexual assault coalition. Below is the 2023 list of approved state sexual assault coalitions. The 2023 list remains substantially the same as the 2022 list, but some minor edits were made to reflect name changes. The fiscal year 2024 list will be updated in October 2023.
- Alabama Coalition Against Rape.
- Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
- Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
- Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- CAWS North Dakota.
- Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
- Day One Rhode Island.
- Delaware Alliance Against Sexual Violence.
- DC Rape Crisis Center (DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence).
- Florida Council Against Sexual Violence.
- Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault.
- Hawaii Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
- Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking.
- Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
- Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
- Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault.
- Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc.
- Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
- Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
- New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- North Dakota Council on Abused Women's Services / Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
- Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
- Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.
- South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
- South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.
- Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.
- Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- ValorUS.
- Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
- Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.
- Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs.
- West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services.
- Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
- Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Contacts
The Rape Prevention and Education Program operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. View profile information for each grantee below.
Contact information for state and territorial sexual violence prevention coalitions is available through the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Betsy Cagle
Program Manager, Rape Prevention Education
Alabama Department of Public Health
Behavioral Health Division
The RSA Tower, Suite 966
201 Monroe Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Phone: (334) 206-3995
Email: Betsy.Cagle@adph.state.al.us
Mollie J. Rosier, MPH
Child and Adolescent Health Unit Manager
Section of Women's, Children's and Family Health
Division of Public Health
Alaska Department of Health & Social Services
3601 C St., Suite 322
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Phone: (907) 269-3466
Email: mollie.rosier@alaska.gov
Diana Lee
Sexual Violence Prevention Program Manager
Arizona Department of Health Services
Bureau of Chronic Disease & Health Promotions
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 310
Phoenix, Arizona 85007-3242
Phone: (971)-227-5614
Fax: 602-364-1496
Email: Diana.Lee@azdhs.gov
Josette Boons
Public Health Educator, Injury & Violence Prevention
Arkansas Department of Health
4815 W. Markham St. Slot #10
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-661-2110
Email: josette.boons@arkansas.gov
Enrica Bertoldo
Rape Prevention and Education Program Coordinator
California Department of Public Health
Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
1616 Capitol Ave., Suite 74.436, MS 7214
Sacramento, CA 95814-5052
Phone: 916-552-9847
Email: Enrica.Bertoldo@cdph.ca.gov
Danielle Tuft
Sexual Violence Prevention Program Manager
Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, Colorado 80246-1530
Phone: (303) 692 2592
Fax: (303) 691-7901
Email: Danielle.tuft@state.co.us
Colleen Violette
Director
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue
MS#11 HLS
Hartford, Connecticut 06134-0308
Phone: (860) 509-8251
Email: colleen.violet@ct.gov
Karen McGloughlin
Program Director
DHSS Division of Public Health
417 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901-4523
Phone: 302-744-1009
Fax: 302-739-2547
Email: Karen.McGloughlin@state.de.us
Jaida D. Carter, MPH
RPE Program Coordinator
Community Health Administration (CHA)
District of Columbia Department of Health
899 North Capitol Street, NE, 5th Fl
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 442-9386
Email: jaida.carter@dc.gov
Rhonda Jackson
Violence and Injury Prevention Program Administrator
Florida Department of Health
Division of Community Health Promotion
Bureau of Family Health Services
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # A-13
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1721
Tel: 850-558-9575
Fax: 850-410-1304
Email: Rhonda.Jackson2@flhealth.gov
Vanessa Corona
Director, Rape Prevention Education Program
Chronic Disease Prevention Section
Georgia Department of Public Health
2 Peachtree Street NW, 16h Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142
Fax: 404-657-4338
Phone: 404-401-0768
Email: vanessa.corona@dph.ga.gov
Joanne Higashi, LCSW
RPE Program Director
Sexual Violence Prevention Program
Maternal & Child Health Branch
Hawaii Dept. of Health
741-A Sunset Ave, Room 205
Honolulu, Hawaii 96816
Phone: 808-733-9038
Fax: 808-733-0978
Email: joanne.higashi@doh.hawaii.gov
Heidi Cook, MSW
Sexual Violence Prevention Health Program Manager
Division of Public Health
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
450 West State Street, 6th Floor
Boise, Idaho 83720 0036
Phone: 208-334-4970
Cell: 208-921-9756
Email: heidi.cook@dhw.idaho.gov
Tiffanie Pressley
Injury Prevention Coordinator
Illinois Department of Public Health
535 W. Jefferson
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 217-785-5225
Email: Tiffanie.Pressley@illinois.gov
Vinootna Kakarla
Violence Prevention Program Director
Division of Women's Health
Indiana State Department of Health
2 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-3021
Phone: 317-233-7382
Email: Vkakarla@isdh.IN.gov
Monica Goedken
Violence Prevention Coordinator
Iowa Department of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone: (515) 281-5032
Fax: (515) 281-4535
E-mail: monica.goedken@idph.iowa.gov
Belinda Flores
Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Program Manager
Daina Zolck
Section Director
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Health Promotion
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 230
Topeka KS, 66612-1274
Phone: 316-308-8860
Fax: 785-296-8645
E-mail: belinda.flores@ks.gov or Daina.Zolck@ks.gov
Miranda Stocker, MS (Primary)
RPE Program Manager
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Department for Community Based Services
Division of Protection & Permanency Clinical Services Branch
275 East Main Street, 3E-A
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621
Phone: (502) 330-6838
Email: Miranda.Stocker@ky.gov
Karen Webb
RPE Coordinator
Office of Public Health
Maternal and Child Health Program
1450 Poydras Street, Room 2040B
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Phone: 504-568-3513
Fax: 504-568-3503
E-mail: Karen.Webb@LA.gov
Alicia Hunter
Violence Prevention Program Manager
Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Child and Family Services
109 Capital Street
Augusta, ME 04330-6841
Cell: (207)-592-0315
Email: alicia.hunter@maine.gov
Erin Boguski, MS
Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator
Rape & Sexual Assault Prevention Program
Center for Injury and Sexual Assault Prevention
Maryland Department of Health
201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-2866
Email: erin.boguski@maryland.gov
Mark Bergeron-Naper
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Fourth Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108 4619
Phone: (617) 624-5465
Fax: (617) 624-5075
Email: mark.bergeron-naper@state.ma.us
Jessica Grzywacz, MDCH
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan Department of Community Health
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 335-8627
Fax: (517) 335-9669
Email: GrzywaczJ@michigan.gov
Fed Ex: Washington Square Bldg-8th Fl
109 W. Michigan Ave
Lansing, Michigan 48913
Mary Hopkins
Program Director
Injury and Violence Prevention Unit Leader
Golden Rule Building
85 E. Seventh Place, Suite 220
P.O. Box 64882
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0882
Phone: (651) 201-5404
Email: mary.hopkins@state.mn.us
Patti Williams
Division Director, Office Against Interpersonal Violence
Mississippi State Department of Health
715 S. Pear Orchard Rd. Suite 102
Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157
Phone: (601) 206-1546
Fax: (601) 957-6781
Email: Patti.Williams@msdh.ms.gov
Jenay Divin
Program Coordinator
Office on Women's Health
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
930 Wildwood Drive
Jefferson City, Missouri 65109
Phone: (573) 522-0220
Fax: (573) 522-3023
Email: jenay.divin@health.mo.gov
Sarah Ehrhard-Reid
Deputy Chief
Phone: 573-526-0220
Email: Sarah.EhrhardReid@health.mo.gov
Patrick Paradis
SVPVS Program Specialist
Montana Department of Health and Human Services
1625 11th Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Phone: (406) 444-3628
Fax: (406)-444-2750
Email: patrick.paradis@mt.gov
Jacqueline Isaly
Bureau Chief
Phone: 406-444-4743
Email: jacqueline.isaly@mt.gov
Peg Ogea-Ginsburg
Injury Prevention Program Manager
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
310 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 95027
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
Phone: 402-471-3490
Fax: 402-471-6446
Email: peg.ogeaginsburg@nebraska.gov
Samm Warfel
Director, Rape Prevention and Education Program
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public & Behavioral Health | MCAH
4150 Technology Way, Ste 200
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Phone: 775-684-4263
Email: swarfel@health.nv.gov
JoAnne Miles Holmes, MPH
Injury Prevention Program Manager
Maternal and Child Health Section
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-5384
Email: JoAnne.MilesHolmes@dhhs.nh.gov
Danielle Scott
Rape Prevention and Education Director
Office on the Prevention of Violence Against Women
Division on Women
NJ Department of Children and Families
50 East State Street
PO Box 717
Trenton, NJ 08625-0717
Phone: (609) 888-7580
Email: Danielle.Scott@dcf.nj.gov
Erica Trujillo
Sexual Violence Prevention Coordinator
Office of Injury Prevention
Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology Bureau
Epidemiology and Response Division
1190 S St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Phone: (505) 827-2725
Fax: (505) 827-2796
Email: Erica.Trujillo@state.nm.us
Bernadette Dolen
Director of Sexual Violence Prevention Program
Bureau of Women, Infant and Adolescent Health
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower, Room 821, ESP
Albany, New York 12237
Phone: (518) 474-0535
Email: Bernadette.Dolen@health.ny.gov
Sara Crouch
RPE Program Manager
Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
Division of Public Health
1915 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1915
Phone: (919) 707-5426
Email: sara.crouch@dhhs.nc.gov
Fed Ex: 5505 Six Forks Rd, Bldg. 1, 3rd Floor, Room A-3
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-3809
Mallory Sattler
Director, Rape Prevention and Education Program
ND Department of Health
600 East Blvd. Ave., Dept. 325
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0250
Phone: 701-328-4562
Fax: 701-328-1412
Email: mlsattler@nd.gov
Debra Seltzer
Rape Prevention & Education Coordinator
Women's Health Section
Ohio Department of Health
246 N High Street, 8th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 728-2176
Fax: (614) 644-7740
Email: Debra.seltzer@odh.ohio.gov
Brandi Woods-Littlejohn
Administrative Program Manager
Violence Prevention Programs
Injury Prevention Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
1000 NE 10th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1207
Phone: (405) 271-3430 ext 56461
Fax: 405-271-2799
Email: brandiw@health.ok.gov
Julie McFarlane, MPH
Maternal & Child Health Tribal Liaison
Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Public Health Division
Center for Prevention and Health Promotion
Maternal and Child Health Section
800 NE Oregon Street
Portland, Oregon 97232
Phone: (971) 255-7093
Email: Julie.M.McFarlane@state.or.us
Beth Zakutney
Program Administrator
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Violence and Injury Prevention
625 Forster Street
Rm 1008, H & W Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120-0701
Phone: (717) 787-5900
Fax: (717) 783-5498
Email: bzakutney@state.pa
Angela Kemp
Director
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capitol Hl Community Health & Equity-DUP
Providence, RI 02908-5034
Phone: (401) 222-3047
Email: Angela.kemp@health.ri.gov
Madison Hall
Sexual Violence Services Program Coordinator
South Carolina Health Department
2100 Bull Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: (803) 898-3918
Fax: (803) 898-0577
Email: HallMT@dhec.sc.gov
Sarah Barclay
Director, Rape Prevention and Education Program
Office of Child and Family Services
South Dakota Department of Health
4101 W 38th Street
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106
Phone: (605) 367-5212
Email: sarah.barclay@state.sd.us
Renea Satterwhite
Rape Prevention Education Program Director
Division of Family Health and Wellness
Tennessee Department of Health
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Tel: 615-532-7768
Fax: 615-532-8478
Email: Renea.Satterwhite@tn.gov
Susan Bareis
State Adolescent Health Coordinator
Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal and Child Health
1100 W 49th St.
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78756
Phone: (512) 776-2047
Email: susan.bareis@dshs.texas.gov
Lisa Balland
Director, Rape Prevention and Education Program
Utah Department of Health
288 N. 1460 W.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Phone: (385) 260-5456
Email: lballand@utah.gov
Emily Fredette
Director, Preventive Reproductive Health
Vermont Department of Health
Division of Maternal and Child Health
108 Cherry St.
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, Vermont 05402
Phone: (802) 865-7729
Email: Emily.Fredette@vermont.gov
Maria Altonen
Injury and Violence Prevention Program Supervisor
Division of Prevention and Health Promotion
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St., 9th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 864-7735
Email: maria.altonen@vdh.virginia.gov
Kirstin McFarland
Intentional Injury Prevention Specialist
Injury and Violence Prevention Program
Prevention and Community Health
Washington State Department of Health
PO Box 47853
Olympia, Washington 98504-7853
Phone: (360) 236-2859
Email: Kirstin.mcfarland@doh.wa.gov
Sarah Brown Todd
WV Violence and Injury Prevention Program Director
Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health
350 Capitol Street, Room 427
Charleston, West Virginia 25301-3715
Phone: (304) 356-4781
Email: sarah.l.brown@wv.gov
Kara Benjamin
Adolescent Health Consultant
Family Health Section
Bureau of Community Health Promotion
1 West Wilson Street, Rm 233
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 609-4176
Email: Kara.Benjamin@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Megan Selheim
Youth and Young Adult Health Program Manager
Maternal and Child Health Unit
Public Health Division
Wyoming Department of Health
122 West 25th Street, 3rd Floor West
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Phone: (307) 777-8225
Email: megan.selheim@wyo.gov
American Samoa
Jennifer F Tofaeono
Executive Director
American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
P.O. Box 4459
Pago Pago, AS 96799-4459
Phone: 684-699-0272
Email: jennifer.tofaeono@asadsv.com
Guam
LyAna Cabot Crisostomo
Project Director
Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence
P.O. Box 1093
Hagatna, GU 96932-1093
Phone: 671-479-2277
Email: LyAna@gcasafv.org
Puerto Rico
Rebecca Ward, Director
Centro de Ayuda a Victimas de Violación
(Rape Victims Support Center)
Puerto Rico Department of Health
P.O. Box 70184
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8184
Phone: (787) 765-2285
Fax: (787) 765-7840
Email: mrward@salud.gov.pr
Fed Ex: 1058 Muñoz Rivera Avenue
Third floor, Suite 302
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00927-5008
U.S. Virgin Islands
Lyna Fredericks
Director
U.S. Virgin Islands Chronic Disease Prevention Program
3500 Estate Richmond
Christiansted, St. Croix
US Virgin Islands 00820-4370
Phone: (340) 719-0144 Ext 1
Fax: (340) 719-5521
Email: lyna.fredericks@usvi-doh.org