Arc Of New Jersey

INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) ARE 7 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE A VICTIM OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE THAN THOSE WITHOUT IDD. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BY FOCUSING ON THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST THIS POPULATION, THEREBY INVESTING IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY FUTURE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HEALTHY SEXUALITY EDUCATION CURRICULUM FOR YOUTH WITH IDD IN THE SCHOOLS. IT WILL ALSO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS WITH IDD WHO DID NOT HAVE THIS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE PAST AND HAVE THEREFORE FACED SIGNIFICANT DISADVANTAGES.  THE FUNDING WILL BE USED TO COVER PROGRAM COSTS, INCLUDING SALARIES AND BENEFITS, FOR A PROGRAM THAT WILL RESEARCH, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS AIMED AT PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE PROGRAM WILL WORK TO INCREASE HEALTHY SEX EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD, WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO DELIVER THE EDUCATION, AND INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE.