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Writer's pictureSAFE Bar Network

You Are Influential - One Way To Use Your Influence For Good

What do you know about bystander intervention? Active bystander skills? You may have heard these terms but if you are like most of us you probably don’t consider yourself an expert. Whether you realize it or not you have used active bystander skills to notice concerning behavior, interrupt effectively, and provide someone support.


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At the SAFE Bar Network we partner with bars and other alcohol-serving venues to harness the power of their team, improve active bystander skills, and together create a workplace culture focused on giving everyone a safe night out.


Research tells us that bystanders are influenced by the behaviors of other bystanders. So at the SAFE Bar Network we take a collective approach to bystander intervention and facilitate focused conversations that bring the entire staff together and build connection.


We know that camaraderie and a focus on customer care is an important part of deciding whether or not to use active bystander skills to help someone. This is because people are motivated to help when…


…they are encouraged by others to take action when someone is uncomfortable or unsafe,


they identify with and see themselves as similar to the person being hurt, and


they know that they will be supported and encouraged by others when they take action to help.


With this in mind, the SAFE Bar Network’s programming for bars and other alcohol-serving venues includes six features found to be effective in improving safety and reducing harm.


1) Using multiple strategies to address the problem behavior. Not only do training conversations focus on active bystander skills they focus on improving the space and policies.


2) Gaining a sound understanding of both the problem and of how it can be changed. We explore the unique challenges of individual bars and the strategies that have worked in the past to increase safety.


3) Using educational, communication, and other strategies known to create change. Adults have a unique way of learning, we use this knowledge to create programming that is relevant, engaging, and effective.


4) Developing active bystander skills that are unique to the context. People leave SAFE Bar training conversations with skills they can use to notice concerning behavior and interrupt effectively on their next shift.


5) Modeling how to use active bystander skills so that people are learning how and when to take action.


6) Exploring options and giving local resources for providing support to people who are hurt.


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SAFE Bar Training conversations are simple, manageable, and they work – but you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out these real-life, Everyday Active Bystanders.

To learn more about active bystander skills check out our blog post, Obstacles. What obstacles? 3 Full Proof Everyday Active Bystander Skills.


To learn more about joining the SAFE Bar Network contact us at safebarnetwork@gmail.com


The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) you can join the team by donating your time, talent, and money to the mission of giving everyone a SAFE Night Out, just click here.


If you have a favorite bar, restaurant or night club encourage them to join the SAFE Bar Network. They can learn more at www.safebarnetwork.org


Interested in learning more about bystander intervention? Visit our friends at With Us Center for Bystander Intervention.


If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault our partners can help. Visit MOCSA.org and RAINN.org


To learn more about the field of sexual violence response and prevention visit PreventConnect.org and NSVRC.org




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