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

[Jen Luettel Schweer <>]

I so appreciate the concerns as laid out by Holly, LB and Tammi.  Advocacy and its critical role in the process of responding to and supporting survivors on campus (and also the need for us to be included in conversations about policy and processes regarding sexual assault) seems to be getting minimized more and more.  I'm seeing an increasing focus in the national conversation on the legal aspect of compliance and less around the lived experience of a survivor who comes forward and enters these processes.  The job of advocates goes far beyond just making sure students know they can make a report (as Tammy explained so well.)  While that is certainly part of it, our work is much more complex -- and outside of survivors, we are more of an expert on the process as whole, (including barriers, etc.) than anyone else.  That area of professional expertise and training is often being pushed aside.

On Fri, Mar 6, 2015 at 10:53 AM, Tammi Slovinsky <> wrote:

Agree with all- I am often giving an answer to this question:  if you have confidential counseling already, why do advocates need it when the student can just go to counseling?  I also do not think that many outside of our "world" understand the difference in the two roles.

Some of my responses for why confidentiality is also needed beyond the counseling area include: Advocates are needed to help explore reporting options, medical options and accompaniment, provide education on policy, broker meeting with campus officials and law enforcement, court accompaniment, conduct safety planning....and, there are some who do not like to seek therapy for many reasons- cultural, fear of it being on a transcript (I have heard this especially from pre-med students), fear of being diagnosed, not wanting to go to many appointments, or to wait in some cases.

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


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On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 9:27 PM, LB Klein <> wrote:

I echo Holly's concerns. There are already limited pathways for new survivor advocates to learn and gain skills. Fostering the next generation of advocates, can only be achieved through close mentoring and intensive training that involves working directly with people before becoming full professionals.

I have felt far too often the vital role of survivor advocates is really being lost in national conversations. Confidential advisors and advocates may have similarities, but they're not the same thing.  It seems that in many conversations there are therapists and then there are folks who adjudicate cases or serve as Title IX Coordinators, attorneys, etc. Systems advocacy, confidential crisis intervention, and ongoing support and accompaniment that is not therapy are continually lost in these conversations. 

I agree with Holly wholeheartedly that we need to raise our voices on this. Otherwise, I am concerned that campus-based advocates will be stymied by at every turn due to lack of protections for their confidentiality and an inability to full their roles as systems advocates due to the expectation that they should be fulfilling more of a therapist role or should be partnering to do what is "best" for the university at the expense of the survivor. Advocacy programs have seen great successes on campuses and in communities, and it would be a disservice to survivors for us to see these programs railroaded more than they already have been.

LB Klein, MSW | Educator & Consultant Based in Atlanta, GA

MPA Candidate, Program on Gender-Based Violence

University of Colorado at Denver School of Public Affairs

Lead Trainer

Prevention Innovations, University of New Hampshire

Pronouns: She, her, hers

        

On Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 9:17 PM, Holly Rider-Milkovich <> wrote:

I have a lot of concerns about the legislation, even as I note some of the positivist changes introduced in this version of the bill--like the grant program introduced to fund research on best practices.

The limits on confidential advisors is especially troubling because it will wipe out our social work graduate student internship program and eliminate our ability to train new professionals under supervision and give them experience before entering the workforce.  I expect that other campuses are in a similar situation.  I think that we can fight to be allowed to train emerging professionals under rigorous supervision--as do our other colleagues in the social work field--while not opening the floodgates to having all students be able to serve in this role.

This is an issue that I think we really need to raise our voices about--and ask our colleagues in victim advocacy on the community side to join us in.

On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 11:06 PM, Brett Sokolow <> wrote:

I am concerned that the notice of disciplinary proceeding provision may be so broad as to interfere with our ability to investigate without first alerting the respondent.  

Regards,
Brett A. Sokolow
Brett A. Sokolow, Esq.
Attorney-at-Law

President & CEO, The NCHERM Group LLC

Executive Director, The National Behavioral Intervention Team Association 

Executive Director, The Association of Title IX Administrators 

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From: Summer Little <>
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at 5:16 PM
To: "" <>, "" <>
Subject: new McCaskill legislation

Hi all,

Has anyone read through the new version of the McCaskill legislation? I think it looks much better. Do any of you have concerns with the new version? I've attached it. 

Thanks,

Summer Little, MA

Director, Women's Resource Center

Chair, Sexual Misconduct and Assault Response Team (SMART)

Co-Chair, LoboRESPECT Advocacy and Response Committee

MSC06 3910

#1 University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131 

505.277.3716

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Holly M. Rider-Milkovich

Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center

Co-Chair, Abuse Hurts Initiative

University of Michigan

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Jen Luettel Schweer, MA, LPC

Associate Director, Health Education Services

Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Services

Adjunct Faculty, Women and Gender Studies

Georgetown University

Health Education Services

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