Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Bernstein, Lauren (LB)" <>]

Hi Meghan,

I think this speaks to a concern many of us have about conflating advocacy 
with serving in a Title IX Coordinator role.  They are different roles. 
Someone in an adjudication cannot provide advocacy. Advocates are not 
responsible for fact-finding, evidence collection, investigation, or 
interviewing. Our role is to provide support and referral throughout these 
processes and to be a confidential support who is thinking only of the 
interests of the survivor as the best expert on her/his/hir life. We also 
play a critical role as observers and advocates who ensure that procedures 
are followed and rights are maintained for the survivor.  My impression from 
OCR conversations is that they understand the critical importance of this 
role, one that is also featured in community SART programs and is needed on 
all college campuses. My impression as well is that student advocates are not 
responsible employees as their purpose is to provide advocacy under the 
supervision of someone who is providing anonymous information.  You could 
forward an aggregate or anonymous report to the Title IX Coordinator, but 
more seems very problematic and unethical.

I also agree that having these students under the Title IX Coordinator is a 
huge conflict of interest.  There is a need for a system of checks and 
balances when we are working on the issue of sexual violence, and this places 
everything under one auspice.  Similarly, it would be an issue if we as 
advocates were also adjudicating cases.

This is a disturbing trend. I think it is critical that we continue to 
advocate for our role in these processes.  Title IX Coordinators can be an 
excellent addition to college campuses but they do not replace advocates.  I 
continue to hope that we can work to create interdiscplinary teams who are 
able to really work together to engage in our complementary roles in 
preventing and responding to sexual violence.

I know that these tensions and opportunities will also be a topic of 
discussion at our summit at Emory on 3/27.

My best,
LB

Lauren (LB) Bernstein, MSW, LMSW | Assistant Director for the Respect Program
Office of Health Promotion | Emory University Student Health and Counseling 
Services
Phone: 404-727-1514| Fax: 404-712-1519 | 

http://respect.emory.edu ;| 1525 Clifton Road, 103-I, Atlanta, GA 30322

The Respect Program engages the Emory community to prevent & respond to 
sexual assault & relationship violence as part of the Office of Health 
Promotion which promotes flourishing and capacity building for a healthy 
Emory.

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________________________________________
From: Root, Meghan 
[]
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 9:06 AM
To: 

Subject: Student advocates reporting requirements

Hey Folks, I am dealing with a conflict on my campus and would like others 
professional opinions at this point. My campus has a group of volunteer 
students that have been trained to be advocates for victims of sexual 
misconduct. They are trained to do hospital accompaniment, sit with them 
while talking to the Police or Public Safety, or just provide resources, 
referrals, and support. They person a 24/7 phone line to respond to the 
student body and can also meet students in person to talk.

We do not have any legal protection for advocates regarding confidentiality 
or a legal definition of an advocate in Maryland as far as I am aware, but I 
have provide over 40 hours of training to them to respond to calls and do 
prevention work.

This group is supervised by me (therapist and advocate) and any reports that 
come in to them are shared with the title IX coordinator anonymously at the 
minimum. If the student advocate knows the name of the victim or respondent, 
they will disclose that information to me, but not to the Title IX 
coordinator unless the victim or 3rd party caller wants that information 
shared. If they want to report it to the school, the student advocate will 
help facilitate that.

My administration is asking for two changes:
1. That if a student advocate is aware of the name or any identifying 
information of a victim or accused, they are required to share that 
information with the Title IX coordinate. I believe they are arguing that 
these student advocates are "responsible employees" (Dear Colleague letter) 
and/or "Campus Security Authorities" (Clery).
My opinion is that they are volunteers and students and advocates and are not 
CSAs or Employees. Also, if we require them to report to the Title IX 
coordinator, are we actually limited a victim's resources for assistance? I 
doubt students will utilize them if they know the will share all information 
with the Title IX coordinator.

2. The school would like to move this group of students from under my 
supervision and direction to the Title IX coordinator position (new on 
campus). In my opinion this equates our recent discussion on the listserve of 
having the advocate position under the Title IX coordinator. This decision is 
partly dependent on the answer to the first change. If they have to report 
everything to the Title IX coordinator, then it makes some sense they are 
supervised by them.

I would really appreciate all feedback you may have on this as I am 
struggling to be heard and questioning if my profession and ethic view point 
on this is way off base. I feel like we are limited support services by doing 
this.


--
Meghan K. Root, M.A., M.Ed., NCC
Sexual Assault and Wellness Advocate, Chance Hall
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Tel: 240-895-4289
SMCM Goes Green Dot<http://www.smcm.edu/health/greendot.html>
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