Primary Prevention is provided throughout the agency’s service area with presentations and training events designed to equip community members with the knowledge and skills to prevent domestic violence and sexual violence from occurring in the first place.  Primary prevention is comprehensive, involves the whole community, and is specific to the community.  The curriculum in this program examines the root causes of domestic and sexual violence, not only on the individual level, but on the level of the family, community, and society as well.  Although there are factors on the individual level that contribute to a higher risk of the occurrence of domestic and sexual violence, there are also risk factors within the family, community, and society that create a climate where domestic and sexual violence are allowed to continue.  In order to make significant progress in the battle against these widespread issues, many different people and agencies are needed so that new information, new experiences, new perspectives are being brought to the table to devise possible strategies to end domestic and sexual violence. 

 Another critical initiative that is a part of primary prevention is the Coastal Bend Coordinated Community Response Coalition on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, also known as the CBCCRC.  The Women’s Shelter of South Texas initiated the formation of the CBCCRC in 2006. The coalition is comprised of multiple area entities including law enforcement, educational institutions for children of all ages from preschool through college, faith-based organizations, social service agencies, and individuals who have been personally affected by domestic and sexual violence. The coalition’s mission is to effect social change through collaborative efforts to meet the needs of victims, to hold offenders accountable, and to educate the Coastal Bend community on preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. Committees are at work addressing barriers that victims face as well as developing and implementing violence prevention training classes in area schools.

An additional community coalition was formed in 2007 to address issues of victim services and violence prevention initiatives in rural communities including Kleberg, Kenedy, and Brooks counties.