New Training Aims To Stop Sexual Violence In Stillwater Bars

Oakdale-based Canvas Health announced Thursday it will begin offing free training for Washington County bar and restaurant staff on recognizing sexual violence within their establishments.

One in four women will experience some form of sexual violence in their adolescence or early adulthood, according to Canvas Health. At least half of these crimes will occur while the perpetrator is under the influence of alcohol.

Under the auspices of the national Safe Bars organization, the Abuse Response Services team at Canvas Health will soon be teaching bar and restaurant employees in Washington County how to recognize subtle signs of sexual violence, and then will go over specific strategies for intervening.

The Canvas Health trainings may spread to counties outside of Washington County soon if there’s interest, according to a news release.

Instructors will use "bystander education" strategies to empower bar and restaurant staff to stand against sexual harassment and assault. Bystander intervention teaches witnesses of harassment to intervene in effective ways when they detect that a patron may be feeling uncomfortable or threatened.

One example of an intervention would be for a member of the restaurant staff to distract the aggressor by telling them that the bartender wants to talk with them about an issue related to their credit card.

Canvas Health will offer this two-hour training to Washington County bars and restaurants free of charge on an ongoing basis. Once the staff members of the bar or restaurant complete their training, the establishment earns its Safe Bars certification.

“Patrons can look for the Safe Bars window cling and know that this bar or restaurant is committed to their safety,” Sadie Cunningham, an Abuse Response Services specialist at Canvas Health, said in a statement. “It’s a win-win situation. Bar owners can build customer satisfaction and loyalty, because a safe environment allows patrons to enjoy themselves—and want to come back.”

Bars and restaurants in Washington County can sign up for this free training by contacting Cunningham at (612) 418-6559.

Additional resources

The training complements other services offered by Canvas Health Abuse Response Services in Washington County, including its 24-hour telephone crisis response hotline (651) 777-1117, short-term counseling, free prevention education, 24/7 response to local hospital emergency rooms, support groups, and legal advocacy.

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