Youth Survey Shows Significant Gains in Students' Social-Emotional Intelligence Over 2016-2017 MOST and WISE Club Program Year

WASHINGTON - Dec. 4, 2017 - PRLog -- Men Can Stop Rape's youth development programs, Men of Strength (MOST) Club and Women Inspiring Strength and Empowerment (WISE) Club, have released highlights of the results of their 2016-2017 Washington, D.C., program evaluation. These results showed a significant number of double-digit percentage gains in positive changes in student perceptions over the 22-week curriculum. The evaluation, given at the start of the program year and again at the end, presents students with a set of 11 scale questions to gauge their knowledge, attitudes, or behavioral intentions with regard to violence, self-control, healthy relationships, gender equity, and masculinity.

The single most significant attitude improvement in the 2016-17 program year occurred among high school WISE Club members responding to the statement, "I feel like men and women are equal in a family." The percentage of WISE Club member respondents who indicated that they completely agree with that statement rose by 61.99% over the course of the year.

Another key gain was seen among MOST Club members, whose responses showed a 49% improvement in the percentage of middle school members who responded that they completely agree with the statement, "Listening to what others say or need is important to me."

A few examples of the many other double-digit percentage gains reflected in the post-test responses include:

  · 38.89% more high school WISE Club members responded that they completely agree with the statement, "If I don't feel comfortable with something, I know how to tell my friends or adults close to me."

  · 20.38% more high school MOST Club members responded that they completely agree with the statement, "If I see someone hurting someone else, I feel like I know how I can stop it."

  · 15.98% more high school MOST Club members responded that they strongly agree with the statement, "Boys and men can stop sexual harassment and sexual violence."

When asked to comment on the multiple gains seen across the spectrum of student development, Men Can Stop Rape's Director of Youth Development, Kristina Gilchrist, said, "As an organization we are pleased to see reflected in the evaluation results what we believe is a natural progression for our club members. Men Can Stop Rape's youth programs create spaces for young men and women to explore new ways of thinking."

To see charts depicting additional highlights of the 2016-17 evaluation results, please click here.

Men Can Stop Rape's 2016-2017 MOST Club and WISE Club programming was supported with a $514,500 grant from the District of Columbia Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, which funded 73% of the cost of the program. Funding for the program was also provided by The Herb Block Foundation and The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. Additionally, NoVo Foundation provided Men Can Stop Rape with ongoing general operating support.

For more information on MOST and WISE Clubs, please contact Kristina Gilchrist at info@mencanstoprape.org or (202) 534-1831.

Men Can Stop Rape is a national organization that mobilizes men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men's violence against women.

Founded in 1997, Men Can Stop Rape provides agencies, schools, and organizations with direct services for youth, public service messaging, and leadership training. In contrast to traditional efforts against gender-based violence that address men as the problem, Men Can Stop Rape's pioneering work embraces men as vital allies with the will and character to make healthy choices and foster safe, equitable relationships. Our education programs, public awareness messaging, and leadership training together constitute a unified and comprehensive campaign that has been launched in states and cities around the country. For more information, please visit www.mencanstoprape.org.