Close to Home
Close to Home is a Community Action Team of local youth and adults who are working together to make the San Luis Obispo community happier, healthier, and more equitable.
Close to Home was created over 20 years ago in 2000, when community members decided to confront the complex issue of domestic and sexual violence where it happens in Dorchester, Massachusetts. These community members observed that despite institutional and agency intervention, sexual and intimate partner violence was still happening, and they got to work: knocking on doors, inviting neighbors to meetings, hosting conversations, and inviting their community to join them in challenging and changing the social norms that allow violence to exist.
The success of Close to Home in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was game-changing and led to the California Department of Public Health piloting the program in California communities to address sexual and intimate partner violence happening here. Now, Close to Home is being implemented in communities and schools across the state.
What is Close to Home?
Close to Home is a Community Action Team of local youth and adults who are working together to make the San Luis Obispo community happier, healthier, and more equitable.
Close to Home follows a four phase approach, similar to the public health model: Assess, Talk, Build, and Act. Close to Home volunteers assess their community through surveys, community mapping, and one-on-ones with community members. They then host public meetings where community members are invited to come and share their experiences and needs more in-depth. Close to Home then takes all of what they’ve learned and studies it, looking for themes, issues, and needs that will determine what to build for their community to take action against sexual and intimate partner violence happening locally.
The Close to Home process produces sustainable, community-centered change that’s informed by the real experts: the people living in that community.
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What has Close to Home done?
The San Luis Obispo chapter of Close to Home has organized and hosted local art showcases, held community events, held professional development workshops, received proclamations from City Council for Teen Dating Violence Action Month, and more!
Who can join Close to Home?
Anyone! Close to Home is always accepting new members. Email [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.
Close to Home is a primary prevention program built on evidence-based health models that address sexual and intimate partner violence in communities, funded by the California Department of Public Health, with support and technical assistance from ValorUS.
