What is Advocacy? Additional Information About Services

The CARES (Campus Advocacy, Resources, and Education for Survivors) Program offers advocacy and support services to students, faculty, and staff who have been impacted by experiences such as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking/harassment and many other forms of violence.  

What is Advocacy?  

Non-clinical interventions which provide both emotional and practical support strategies for coping with the impact of violence. Examples of the CARES Program services include:    

• Trauma-informed, advocacy-based, short-term counseling and crisis management
• Support and assistance for friends, family, and other impacted individuals 
• Information about forensic evidence collection, also known as a PERK, and other medical care resources
• Assistance finding safe housing 
• Information about counseling options on-campus and in the local community
• Academic support 
• Consultation services for faculty and staff about how to support students who disclose sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and/or any other form of gender-based violence
• Information and accompaniment to the following University proceedings: 
  • Title IX investigations/meetings
  • Student Conduct meetings 
• Information and accompaniment to the following Criminal/Civil proceedings:
  • Reporting to law enforcement 
  • Criminal court proceedings
  • Obtaining protective orders 

The CARES Program does NOT give legal advice or serve as advisors in student conduct hearings, but can provide referrals to legal and advising services.

There are many resources and reporting options on campus. This can all be very confusing and CARES Advocates can help connect you to and navigate resources.

A note about confidentiality of services

The CARES Program is here to provide a safe space and will make every effort to preserve our clients' privacy. In certain situations, information may be shared with other university departments in order to assist survivors, to provide for the safety of survivors, and/or provide for the safety of the campus community. If you have questions about confidentiality and privacy at the CARES Program or other university departments, please contact us for further explanation.

The CARES Program is considered a "confidential resource" under Title IX and is not required to make a Title IX report to the university.