Help Shape How the CDC Collects Data on Rape Prevention

You might care about this because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking for public comments on its Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program. This program is important because it collects information from organizations that receive federal funding to prevent sexual assault. The data helps the CDC understand how these groups are improving prevention efforts, putting prevention plans into action, and using information to guide their work. This public comment period is a requirement under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The CDC needs approval from the Office of Management and Budget for this data collection to continue. The RPE program itself is funded by laws like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Sexual violence is a major public health concern, affecting many people throughout their lives. The RPE program provides funds to health departments and sexual violence support groups across the country. This effort aims to stop sexual violence before it even begins. Collecting this data helps guide national prevention strategies, ensures federal money is used wisely, and allows the CDC to offer better support to the groups doing this important work. Your comments are due by July 27, 2026. What is particularly interesting about this document is the opportunity for the public to directly influence how a federal agency collects data for a critical program. The RPE Program is the main federally funded initiative focused on stopping sexual violence from happening in the first place. This means the data collected is very important for understanding what works and ensuring that prevention efforts are effective. This notice highlights the transparency built into the federal process, where agencies must ask for public input on information collection. It is not just about reporting numbers, but about assessing how organizations are building their capacity, implementing strategies, and using data to improve their actions against sexual assault. The process helps make sure that the methods for gathering information are practical and do not create unnecessary work for those responding. It also provides a check on how government data collection is designed and used, promoting better quality and usefulness of the information. This document shows how the government works to improve its programs by seeking outside perspectives. Many different groups of people would find this legal document very interesting. State and local health departments, along with sexual violence prevention organizations and coalitions, are directly affected because they are the ones providing the data. Advocacy groups for survivors of sexual violence would be interested in how prevention programs are evaluated and improved. Researchers and academics who study public health, violence prevention, and social policy would also find the details of data collection and program assessment valuable. Policymakers and government officials involved in funding public health initiatives will want to review this to ensure accountability and effectiveness. Taxpayers who care about how federal funds are used for public health programs should also pay attention. Finally, anyone who has experienced sexual violence or is concerned about its prevention in their communities would find this an important document. It provides a chance to contribute to how a significant public health program is managed.