Violence Prevention and Confidential Support
Office of Violence Against Women Campus Grant
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.2020-WA-AX-0011 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.”
Resources and Support
The University offers resources that allow individuals who have experienced harm or sexual misconduct to seek the help they need. Sometimes an individual wants file a report or to speak to somebody confidentially without filing a report or seeking follow up on their concerns.
Violence Prevention Program Manger (student, faculty and staff)
2170-D University Center, 313-593-3503 or [email protected]
Counseling
For students:
Counseling and Psychological Services 2157 University Center, 313-593-5430 or [email protected]
For faculty and staff:
Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office, 734-936-8660 or [email protected]
Ombuds
For students:
Ombuds Services, 2174 B University Center, 313-593-5440 or [email protected]
For faculty: Faculty Ombuds, 313-593-5240 or [email protected]
For staff: Staff Ombuds, 734-936-0600 or [email protected]
•Emergencies/File a Criminal Complaint:
UM-Dearborn Department of Public Safety
1300 Campus Support Services Building
911 (emergency) or 313-593-5333 (non-emergency)
•File a complaint with the University/More information about resources, policies and procedures:
Equity, Civil Rights & Title IX Office
1114 Administration Building
313-436-919
Wayne County
- ACCESS: The Survivors of Violence Empowerment Programs provide vital services and assistance to those who have experienced the trauma of domestic violence.
- AVALON Healing Center: is a non-profit, 501(c)3, comprehensive organization that provides compassionate and trauma-informed care to survivors of sexual assault.
- FirstStep: is a non-profit agency providing comprehensive services for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
- SASHA Center: focuses on educating the public, raising awareness and providing support to self-identified survivors of sexual assault.SASHA Center (sexual assault services for holistic healing and awareness) focuses on the African-American experience, but all groups and services are OPEN to ALL.
Macomb County
- Turning Point: Is a non-profit agency providing services to empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking.
Oakland County
- HAVEN: Is a non-profit agency that provides programs to promote violence-free homes and communities and helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Washtenaw County
- SafeHouse Center: is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that provides safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children, and to work relentlessly to change the systems and attitudes that allow this abuse to continue.
Mandatory Prevention Training
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).
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.
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 [email protected] to request accommodation.
For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact Disability and Accessibility Services (DAS), at [email protected] or 313-593-5310
All students are required to complete Vector Prevention courses.
- 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.
- Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing: Healthy Relationships: Ongoing training that emphasizes healthy relationship skills, tactics for bystander intervention among close friends, and survivor empathy.
- Sexual Assault Prevention Ongoing:Taking Action Learners will strengthen their ability to intervene when friends engage in unsafe or unhealthy behavior, and the importance of bystander intervention.
- 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)
Events and Programs
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.
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.
VPCS Professional Staff and Peer Educators offer workshops and presentations for the general student body and student organizations, classes and one-time events.
Change it Up! Bystander Intervention
Bystander Intervention is recognizing a potentially harmful situation or interaction and choosing to respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome. This workshop will help participants develop the awareness, skills, and courage needed to intervene in a situation when another individual needs help.
Consent 101:
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.
Know it. Name it . Understand It.
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.
Helpful Videos
Consent
Care for some tea ?Sometimes Consent can be confusing, but tea is not.
Whether it’s tea or sex, Consent Is Everything.
Stalking
Stalking is a serious, prevalent, and dangerous crime. While awareness and public discussion of intimate partner violence and sexual assault have increased in recent years, stalking remains frequently misunderstood and rarely discussed – especially on campuses. This video is part of the "Know It, Name It, Stop It" public awareness curriculum developed by the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) of AEquitas. Workshop materials are available at www.stalkingawareness.org.
Stalking is pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.
Start with Empathy
How to respond when someone discloses to you?What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.
Empathy is feeling WITH people.