What is Advocacy?
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Advocacy is…
Support provided by trained and confidential advocates to survivors/victims of gender-based violence. This includes support for problems like: dating/relationship abuse, sexual violence, and stalking. Please see the Common Definitions page for more information.
Making decisions or choices when you are in a tough situation can be difficult.? An advocate can help by talking to you about different options you might have. They will not tell you what to do, but can support you as you make your own decisions.? It is your choice to decide how and when you want to move forward with support.? Advocates believe that you are the expert in your own life.
More specifically, advocates can…
Help Survivors Process Their Experience
- Listening: Advocates let students talk at their own pace.
- Validating Feelings: Let students know that their feelings are normal and okay. They don’t judge or blame them for what happened.
- Encourage Self-Care: Explore activities that can help them relax and feel safe.
Assist in Safety Planning
- Stay Safe: Talk about safe places where students can go if they feel threatened. This includes creating a safety plan together.
- Emergency Contacts: Make a list of people students can call in case of an emergency. Keep this list handy.
- Online Safety: Explore about how to maintain safety and privacy online and on social media.
- Apply for programs/services: Help apply for things like protection orders, Address Confidentiality Program, and/or lease breaks and lock changes.
Provide Information about Victim/Survivors’ Rights
- Know Your Rights: Share about their rights in language that is easy to understand. This could include housing rights, educational rights, and more.
- Legal Help: Share about legal protections and where to find legal help if needed.
- Campus Title IX: Share about campus reporting processes.
Provide Referrals and Connections to Resources
- Campus Support and Resources: Help make connection to advisors, financial aid, tutoring, urgent student need funds, counseling services, culturally specific campus services, and more.
- Community Support: Help make a connection to resources for housing, legal aid, financial assistance, support groups, therapists, culturally specific support, and more.
Support in Navigating Systems
- Explain Processes: Advocates can simplify complex procedures and help students understand how to access available resources step by step.
- Campus Title IX: This is a law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational programs. This includes access to education after dating/domestic abuse, sexual violence, or stalking has occurred. Advocates can support students during these processes including to explain what will happen and provide emotional support.
Help with applying for safety programs or services
- Protection orders are court orders that may help keep survivors safe by legally requiring the person who harmed them to stay away. Advocates can help explain the application process.
- Address Confidentiality Program: the ACP helps survivors keep their address out of public record. An advocate can help a student apply for this program.
Are Advocates Confidential?
Yes, OAP advocates at PCC are here to keep your conversations private. They won’t share what you talk about with anyone else on campus or in the community. The things you say to your advocate will stay between just the two of you.
Quick Guide: What is Confidentiality?
Confidential advocates do not report or talk with anyone else on campus or in the community about what you share. There are a few limits to being 100% confidential, this includes staff being a mandatory reporter of child abuse and neglect. The advocate will share more with you about limits to being confidential before asking about yourself. Check out the Confidentiality Explained PDF for more details about confidential services?at PCC.
How to connect with an Advocate at PCC
You can always connect with a confidential advocate through the Outreach and Advocacy Project Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Usually, we respond within 24 hours, though sometimes it can take longer. This can depend on the time you contact us, if we are working regular hours, or if it is a weekend or holiday. If you need immediate support, please check out the resources listed in the Green box “Need Support Right Away” for 24 hour support services.