Prevention Services
At UHS, we take an “environmental” approach to Prevention Services. That means that while UHS provides direct services to individual students who are grappling with issues that can be harmful to their health, we also work to address factors in the broader environment that have an impact on those health issues. In this way, we seek to integrate individual-level and population-level approaches to ensure that all students can be healthy members of a safe, robust, and resilient university community.
This approach acknowledges that behaviors such as smoking, overeating, alcohol and drug use, and wearing seat belts and bicycle helmets (not to mention condoms!) greatly influence health. And while these behaviors are partially influenced by personal choice, they are also heavily influenced by the environment –- by product marketing, cultural norms, ease of choice, cost, peer expectations, etc. An environmental approach to prevention seeks to promote policies that create a physical and social environment that supports healthy lifestyles and personal choices.
For a successful environmental approach, some of the most important tools are (1) research and data; (2) education, outreach, and other types of communication; and (3) strong networks with campus and community partners who can work together on effective public health policy to promote healthy environments.
Our prevention specialists work on such topics as violence prevention (including sexual assault and dating violence), sexual health, and alcohol risk reduction, as well as promoting diversity and social justice, civic and academic engagement, and a sense of belonging and connection to others.
The Campus Community Partnerships team works with and for students to create a caring community that will enable all students to connect, learn, thrive and contribute.
Its members serve as advisors to several student organizations that work on issues affecting student health, such as PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment), Sex Out Loud, and WisChoices.
The Academic Partnerships team works with academic partners to promote educational practices that foster student learning, health, and well-being.
It extends learning beyond the classroom by linking students and instructors with the vibrant cultural assets of South Madison while contributing to the revitalization of the Park Street corridor.
