Breaking the Link works with high school students to address and prevent alcohol-related Sexual Assault among youth in Marin County. We aim to “break the link” between the serious problems of alcohol use and violence, particularly sexual assault.

Who is the BTL team?

The Breaking the Link team is staff from Huckleberry Teen Health Program (HTHP), Community Violence Solutions (CVS), Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) and the BTL Council.

Who is the BTL Council?

The Breaking the Link Council is a group of high school students from both Novato High School and Sir Francis Drake High School.

What do we do?

The BTL Council is aimed to prevent alcohol-related sexual assault among youth in Marin County by using an environmental approach and implementing a social norms campaign that promotes healthy behaviors and creates policies that will provide a safer environment in high schools.

• What do we mean by environmental approach?

         We mean everything that is around us and has an impact on our          communities. We particularly focus our attention on social norms,          media messages, policies and accessibility.

                          Environment = Community

• What defines our community?

         Each community is different, and there are several key          components that help distinguish one community from another:

• Social Norms that establish what is commonly accepted. Unwritten “laws”.
• Media Messages that are portrayed in the community
  (i.e. advertisements, TV shows, billboards, etc.).
• Laws and Policies that govern a community.  Also, enforcement or lack thereof.
• Accessibility of resources (i.e. fresh fruits and vegetables, transportation, teen health centers, alcohol establishments).

Background Information

Existing research is limited, but available studies suggest that alcohol related sexual assault is a serious public health problem among youth and young adults in Marin County.  Binge Drinking, which places youth at risk of interpersonal violence, occurs at higher rates in Marin County than the State or Nation. From anonymous surveys of Marin high school students by the Rape Crisis Center Community Violence Solutions (CVS), more than 150 male and female high school students reported being sexually assaulted in 2003.