Sexual Wellness
Sexual Violence Support
Sexual Violence includes sexual assault, intimate partner/dating/domestic abuse & violence and stalking. Support for those who have experienced sexual violence is available on the main campus through the OSU Campus Advocacy Program (CAP) and other OSU Services. For a list of regional, state and national resources, please contact the Student Wellness Center at 292-4527 and ask for the Sexual Violence Education and Support area.
What is the Campus Advocacy Program?
How Can You Access A Campus Advocate?
How to Become a Campus Advocate
What is the Campus Advocacy Program (CAP)?
The Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) and the Ohio State University Sexual Violence Education and Support within the Student Wellness Center are cosponsoring expanded advocacy services (the Campus Advocacy Program) for OSU students who experience sexual assault, dating/domestic violence &/or stalking on OSU's campus.
SARNCO provides the 24-Hour Rape Helpline, hospital advocacy programs, prevention education, and outreach initiatives addressing sexual violence in central Ohio.
What Can Campus Advocates Do?
Campus Advocates receive specialized training to respond to the needs of female and male students who report sexual violence. Advocates can provide support on campus in the form of:
- Crisis-intervention and listening.
- Referrals to on-campus and community support resources.
- Information about options including medical, legal, and student judicial processes.
- Safety planning.
For information on resources, please check out our resources page.
How Can You Access a Campus Advocate?
You can call 614-267-7020 and pick the "Campus Advocate" option. You can then leave a voice mail message and a Campus Advocate will return your call and make arrangements to speak with you.
Students can also look for the teal kNOw! sticker and ask trained OSU staff and faculty to access a Campus Advocate for them.
Of course, some one can call the 24 hour Helpline at 614-267-7020 or CHOICES at 614-224-4663 to speak with someone anonymously.
Why Contact A Campus Advocate?
"First Responders" to sexual violence on-campus have multiple roles as OSU faculty and staff members to report incidents of violence and protect public safety. A Campus Advocate will work with first responders as part of the team of in place to assist students who experience violence.
Research as shown the benefits of the support given by advocates within different systems.
Campus Advocates:
- Provide confidential support.
- Do not have the same burden of protecting public safety through reporting.
- Have no investigative mandate.
- Receive extensive, on-going training specifically about sexual violence, legal and medical processes and support resources for survivors of sexual violence, and in providing crisis intervention.
When should you call for a Campus Advocate?
First-responders (employees of OSU) should offer to call a Campus Advocate every time a student discloses any information about a sexual assault, domestic/dating violence or stalking that happened to them.
Let the student know what your reporting requirements are, and that a campus advocate can provide confidential support. Offering to access a campus advocate shows students that their experience is important and that support is available at OSU.
Longer-Term Advocacy
The Campus Advocacy Program Coordinator of the Student Wellness Center, is the person who can provide ongoing advocacy and support throug the criminal justice system, the Student Judicial Affairs process or with any number of issues/problems. Students, staff and faculty can contact her directly by calling 247-6054 or by emailing radcliffe.28@osu.edu to set up an appointment.
As a university official, the Campus Advocacy Program Coordinator will go over confidentiality issues, as well as provide specific assistance (e.g., criminal justice system, Student Judicial Affairs, with written resources, etc.) with students.
This position also exists to support staff and faculty who are dealing with these issues - either personally or professionally. Contact her about the kNOw! campaign, advocacy or for additional information.
How to Become A Campus Advocate
OSU Campus Advocates are volunteers with the Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) who have identified this as an area of their work. SARNCO and SVES work together to provide training and support for campus advocates.
SARNCO is part of OhioHealth, the hospital system which includes many central Ohio hospitals. Campus Advocacy, Hospital Advocacy, Helpline advocacy, Education/Prevention and Outreach are all areas that an individual can be involved with to help address the issue of sexual violence.
All advocates go through forty hours of intensive Survivor Advocacy Training, receive ongoing training and work through a process to become confident in the advocacy role.
Please contact Maytal at mruss@ohiohealth.com or 566-5847 for more information. To find out more about SARNCO, please check out their website at http://www.ohiohealth.com/body.cfm?id=980
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