When you request an appointment, someone will reach out to you within 2 business days via your preferred method of contact to schedule an intake appointment. They will offer times an advocate is available and you can pick what works best for you.
The advocate you will be meeting with will send you an email confirmation of your appointment. This email will include a link to our intake/confidentiality form that you'll need to fill out prior to your appointment. If you choose to meet with your advocate over Zoom, the confirmation email will also include a Tele-Advocacy agreement form and a link to the Zoom meeting.
You and your advocate will talk about the impacts of interpersonal violence on your safety, wellness, academics and help you make a plan for how you can move forward with justice and healing.
We will never tell you what to do, rather, we will explore all of the options and resources available to you so that you can feel empowered to make the decisions that work best for you.
Victim-Survivor Advocates provide free, confidential and trauma-informed support services to students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence (i.e. domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and rape, sexual harassment, stalking, etc.)
We believe in empowering you to make informed decisions around your healing and justice. We will assist you in navigating any resources, processes, and/or services that feel relevant and helpful to you.
Learning about how trauma impacts your wellness can be very empowering for survivors. Our advocates are trained trauma professionals and can help you understand how it may be impacting your mind, body, and spirit.
If safety on campus or in the community is a concern for you, our advocates can help you create a practical and personalized plan to help you avoid dangerous situations and know how to react and get help if you are in one.
Our advocates can help you explore what reporting to the police or the University of Utah Title IX office could look like. If you decide you'd like to report, your advocate will be with you throughout any University, criminal and/or civil processes to answer questions, advocate for you, and provide support.
Trauma and safety issues can have a huge impact on a survivor's capacity to learn, focus, remember, communicate and feel safe and comfortable at school. Our advocates can assist with identifying impacts and helping navigate any communication or processes needed to succeed in school.
Trauma and safety issues can have a huge impact on work. Our advocates can assist with identifying impacts and helping navigate any communication or processes needed to succeed at work.
Our advocates have a network of mental health and medical professionals on campus and in the community and can get you connected.
Our advocates are a hub for resources and services on campus and in the community that can be helpful as survivors move forward with wellness, healing and justice. You can ask an advocate any question and if we can't help you, we'll get you somewhere that can!
It can be hard to know what to do to help a friend, family member or a student who has disclosed that have experienced or are experiencing interpersonal violence. Here are a couple of considerations and resources that may provide a better understanding about what you can do that will be helpful to your loved-one.
What should I do if I know someone who needs help?
Believe the survivor.
Period.
Listen to the survivor.
Let the survivor talk and tell the story how they wish to tell it. Don't ask for any details that the survivor doesn't offer on their own. You don't need to know anything that they don't want to share.
Ask what you can do to support them.
Tell them about our office and offer to help them access our services. We can make sure the survivor knows what services, resources, and options are available to support their healing. If they are not ready to seek professional support just yet, that's entirely okay. Let them know that they should be able to decide when they are ready for professional support and that you will be available to support them if and when that time comes.
Under university policy, most university employees are required to report situations involving sexual misconduct and discrimination to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). Some of these situations may be very personal; we respect your privacy and will protect it in accordance with University of Utah policy and FERPA. Although information about the situation may be reported to the OEO/AA, you have the right to choose to whom you speak, what you say, when you say it and what resources you use. information provided to OEO/AA is considered 'private' information and will only be shared with other appropriate university personnel on a very strict 'need-to-know' basis.
Call 801-581-8365
Email oeo@utah.edu, Office of Equal Opportunity
Include what has been disclosed to you. They will ensure that the person who experienced the interpersonal violence has access to their rights and resources.
**Please note that Victim-Survivor Advocates are a confidential resource, and are not required to report information to the OEO/AA.
They/Them
Victim-Survivor Advocate
She/Her/Ella
Victim-Survivor Advocate
Our Victim-Survivor Advocacy program is located in the Student Services Building. Appointments are encouraged but walk-in appointments are available. You can also contact us directly by email, advocate@sa.utah.edu.
If you would like to ask the advocates a question, please fill out the form below!
Free and confidential. Questions will be answered within 2 business days.
