The New York State Department of Health and Cornell University partnered on a research grant funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build the evidence base on prevention programs that reduce sexual violence perpetration. The 2016-2021 study was unique in its focus on reducing the risk of violence perpetration, rather than victimization. We evaluated Brothers as Allies (BAA), a program that is part of the Boys Council curricula developed by One Circle Foundation.
The Brothers as Allies program is a strengths-based, group approach to promote boys' and young men's safe and healthy passage through pre-teen and adolescent years. The program focuses on building on boys' natural strengths rather than on addressing their weaknesses. Designed especially for middle school boys, the program aims to help boys learn how to talk with people in a respectful and positive way, how to understand other people's perspectives, and what it means to be a healthy, balanced man.
The study sought to examine whether participation in the Brothers as Allies program makes a difference in how boys feel and act. We compared youth who participated in the Brothers as Allies program with a group of their peers who attended regular afterschool or youth programming during the same time period. Boys in both groups completed surveys before and after program participation. Find more about the study and findings in the resources below.
For a larger version of the infographic to the right, click here or click the image.
Project Summaries and Findings
Brothers as Allies Project: Evaluating a Strengths-Based Curriculum for Sexual Violence Prevention
In this presentation, we summarize the project, study design, and findings.
SlidesLessons Learned on Effective Program Implementation
This summary describes what we learned about conducting rigorous research in real-world settings, including the value of strong partnerships, communication, and planning, along with insights about the BAA program itself.
ReportFinal Report to the CDC
Our full, formal report to the funder that supported this research describes the study methods and outcomes.
Facilitator Interviews
Aime Mukendi, one of the program facilitators, produced the following videos in which he interviewed facilitators about their experience with Brothers as Allies.
Why do boys need a program like this?
What changes did you notice in boys who participated?