Curriculum

Athletes As Leaders

Athletes As Leaders was developed right here in Seattle at Garfield High School in Seattle by Rebecca Milliman, MSW, in her leadership role managing the prevention initiative at Garfield High School.  Tapping the expertise of the female student athletes, Disney Williams and Elise Morris, Rebecca also involved her staff person, Monica Schell to craft a curriculum that would be a gender-inclusive program designed for high school athletes on girls’ sports teams. The program they ultimately crafted,  then called Student Leaders and Athletic Youth , was then able to help engage the other half of the school not receiving Coaching Boys Into Men and thus have a true campus wide sexual violence prevention effort.   What eventually became known as Athletes As Leaders, the program aims to empower student athletes to take an active role in promoting healthy relationships and ending sexual violence.  Designed to be implemented in conjunction with Coaching Boys Into Men, the program the men’s sports teams were receiving.  Athletes As Leaders is based on research and best practices in the field of sexual assault prevention. Athletes are encouraged to be leaders in changing peer norms and school climate to a culture of safety and respect. 

During the 2017-18 school year, high school sports teams across the nation were recruited to participate in an evaluation of the program conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.  Participating athletes completed pre and post-program surveys, which were analyzed for changes in attitudes and beliefs. Survey responses show statistically significant changes across three protective factors to sexual violence: improved ability to identify abusive behaviors, improved belief in gender equity and increased self-image and confidence.