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

["Torres, Elena M" <>]

I appreciate your post, since this has been an area of confusion on our campus.  I am at the University of Houston – Victoria.  My title is Counselor/Victim Advocate, and I am housed in the Counseling Center.  My position has been confidential, but over the past year there has been discussion about Victim Advocates having to report interpersonal violence.  We are under Student Affairs and I report to the Associate VP for Student Affairs.  Besides advocacy and counseling, I also do event planning, education and training, but primarily in the area of interpersonal violence.  I do provide counseling for some students that do not have issues around abuse.  Since I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker I am bound by my license to maintain confidentiality.  If I am told I must disclose the outcries students make (when they are not wanting to make reports to police or Title IX) as a Victim Advocate, my supervisor has talked about separating the positions, and hiring someone to just provide advocacy and education services. 

 

Hope this is helpful. 

 

Elena M. Torres, LCSW

Counselor/Victim Advocate

Victim Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Program

University of Houston - Victoria

361-570-4141

 

 

 

From: Broussard, Julia A [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 1:48 PM
To:
Subject: Advocacy services

 

Hi all,

 

I am interested in getting more information about where universities are housing their advocacy services for survivors of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking and also who the advocate reports to.  For example, are these being housed in the women’s center?  The counseling center?  Under the Title IX coordinator?  I am also interested in hearing if the confidential advocate has any other job duties unrelated to gender and sexual violence or if any other duties are strictly around gender and sexual violence (ex. educational programming for students, employee trainings).   Finally, I am interested in whether the designated advocate is considered a fully confidential office (similar to a therapist) or not.  Thanks in advance for any replies!  Also, I’m happy to compile and share any responses I get if others are interested in this info. 

 

Best,

 

Julia

 

Julia Broussard, LMSW

Coordinator, Office of Violence Prevention and Support Services

Division of Student Affairs | Tulane University

Lavin-Bernick Center, Suite G02 | New Orleans, LA 70118

office: 504.314.2161 | email:  

 

What will your legacy be?  http://onewave.tulane.edu