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

[Tammi Slovinsky <>]

We are developing an peer advocacy program also (have a peer education program currently).  I have not been faced with this issue yet- and I am hopeful that the Dept. of Education will post, as they have been saying they will, answers to FAQs around this very matter.  

Tammi Slovinsky, MPA
Assistant Director
Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence and Stalking Advocacy Services
The Wellness Resource Center
Virginia Commonwealth University
815 South Cathedral Place
Richmond, VA 23284
(804) 828-2085
(804) 828-7949

Strategic - Communication - Futuristic - Competition - Ideation

On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 9:06 AM, Root, Meghan <> wrote:

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. 

 

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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

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