CAPSA presents ‘shame‑free conversations’ curriculum and asks council to promote prevention training

Alina Oling, an outreach and advocacy representative from CAPSA (a local domestic and sexual violence services organization), presented to the Hyde Park City Council on prevention strategies and a new curriculum titled “Shame Free Conversations.”

Oling told the council that statistics on calls and outreach can be overwhelming, and emphasized the role of prevention and community responses in addition to intervention. She described common emotional barriers survivors face — shame, stigma, trust issues — and said the curriculum is designed to help adults who serve youth to start specific, approachable, validating and empowering conversations that reduce shame and enable disclosure and help‑seeking.

CAPSA offered to provide the training to the city and partner organizations, said an educator is available to present in local settings, and noted the curriculum has been approved by at least one local church leadership group. Oling also said CAPSA plans an in‑person training on April 3 at the Logan Library and that CAPSA is working to make material available through a new online learning management system.

Councilmembers and staff asked CAPSA to share copy for the city newsletter and said they would explore connections with the city youth council and other regional youth programs. CAPSA left materials and pins to raise awareness and provided contact information for follow‑up.