Violence Prevention and Confidential Support

We seek to provide support, educational opportunities and a safe space for those who have experienced violence and those seeking to support others who have. We also use signature events, such as Take Back The Night and The Clothesline Project, to help educate our campus and community. 

Because violence can impact our students academically, the CSJI plays a vital role in ensuring that students who seek help are provided with immediate assistance and resources within our scope. It is important to note that the we are not a shelter, but we can provide shelter resources and safety planning.

Through a collaborative effort, UM-Dearborn secured a Department of Justice grant in the Fall of 2020. The "Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program"   awarded our campus $300,000 over three years to:

• Hire a fulltime staff member to be a campus-based support person for survivors, to oversee the online education for incoming students, and
• Continue and create new to in-person prevention education programs specifically designed for our campus’ unique population of commuters
• Establish a formal partnership with our local domestic and sexual violence nonprofit First Step to offer a 24/7 helpline for campus and
• Expand campus educational initiatives and support services surrounding sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence.

“This project was supported by Grant No.2020WAAX00112020 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/ program /exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily  reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office  on Violence Against Women.”

The University offers resources that allow individuals who have experienced harm or sexual misconduct to seek the help they need. Sometimes an individual wants to speak to somebody confidentially without filing a report or seeking follow up on their concerns. To that end, the university offers these confidential resources:

Violence Prevention Program Manger (student, faculty and staff)

2170-D University Center, 313-593-3503 or DearbornPreventionEducation@umich.edu  

Counseling 

For students:

Counseling and Psychological Services 2157 University Center, 313-593-5430 or umdearborncaps@umich.edu

For faculty and staff:

 Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office, 734-936-8660 or fascco@umich.edu  

Ombuds 

For students: 

Ombuds Services, 2174 B University Center, 313-593-5440 or ombuds-office@umich.edu

For faculty: Faculty Ombuds, 313-593-5240 or kimkillu@umich.edu

For staff: Staff Ombuds, 734-936-0600 or staffombuds@umich.edu 

Program Access:

At the beginning of each academic year, students will receive notice, with instructions on how to complete the online training. Students will use their Umich secure single sign-on to access their Vector course(s)  HERE . 

Program Overview:

Our prevention courses are designed for use at a population level that is, given to an entire population of students, such as an entering first-year class. This method creates a comprehensive learning experience that:  Motivates behavior change; Resets unrealistic expectations; Links student choices to academic and personal success; Helps students practice healthier and safer decision-making.

All students are required to complete Vector Prevention courses.

Incoming Freshmen and Transfer students will complete :

• Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates: Title IX and Clery Act training that engages undergraduate students in fostering healthy relationships and preparing them to recognize and respond to sexual assault and harassment when it occurs.

• AlcoholEdu for College students: This course encourages students to reflect on their drinking and encourages safe decision-making, making campuses safer for all.

Ongoing undergraduate students will complete :

• Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Healthy Relationships: Ongoing training that emphasizes healthy relationship skills, tactics for bystander intervention among close friends, and survivor empathy. 

Graduate students will complete:

• Sexual Assault Prevention for Graduate Students:Title IX and Clery Act training to support graduate students' interactions with advisors, faculty members, peers, and undergraduate students (including responding to disclosures)

Accommodations:

Individuals who believe they may have an overwhelming or intense emotional reaction to the content of the online training programs should contact Violence Prevention and Confidential Support  at 313-593-3503 or umdearborn-SAtraining@umich.edu to request accommodation.

For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact  Disability and Accessibility Services (DAS), at disabilityservices@umich.edu or 313-593-5310

Events

The Clothesline Project

The Clothesline Project is a visual display of violence statistics that often go ignored. Each shirt is made by a survivor of violence or by someone who has lost a loved one to violence. The color of each shirt represents a different type of violence. The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of the impact of violence and abuse, to honor a survivor’s strength to continue, and to provide another avenue for them to courageously break the silence that often surrounds their experience. This event take place during the first week of April, which is widely recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  For information please click HERE.

Take Back the Night

Take Back the Night (TBTN) is an event that happens on college campuses and  across the United States to bring awareness to sexual violence issues and provide an opportunity for survivors and others to share their experiences with violence in a powerful space after rallying and marching together. VPCS, The CSJI and WILL (Women In Learning and Leadership) are planning the event that usually happens in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For more information, please click HERE.

Programs

VPCS Professional Staff and Peer Educators offer workshops and presentations for the general student body and student organizations, classes and one-time events.

Consent and Sexual Violence:

A workshop that explores different understandings of consent, including the legal definitions. Participants will develop skills related to asking for and giving consent in all relationships as well as discuss strategies for creating a “culture of consent” in campus communities.

Healthy Relationships:

This interactive program utilizes small & large group discussion to discuss the characteristics of healthy relationships, the cultural messages we receive about what relationships are supposed to look like, and the signs of unhealthy relationship dynamics. The workshop aims to highlight key information and skills related to cultivating healthy relationships. 

Stalking On Campus: Know It, Name It, Stop It:

This introductory session provides a basic overview of stalking, focusing on defining stalking, identifying stalker behaviors, and recognizing the prevalence and dynamics of this often-misunderstood form of abuse. Participants will also leave the session with guidance and information on how to support victims/survivors and connect them with resources.

To request a presentation please submit a program request form here.

DVDVSAS Stands for:

Dating Violence-The term “dating violence” means violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: the length of the relationship; the type of relationship; and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

Domestic Violence-Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.

Sexual Assault - The term “sexual assault” means any nonconsensual sexual act and Non-consensual physical abuse (e.g. slapping on the face, hair pulling, choking) occurring in conjunction with consensual or nonconsensual Sexual Contact.

Stalking -Stalking means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.