Advocacy
What is a CARE Advocate?
CARE Advocates provide support to survivors1 of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking. You can read through the Advocacy Services below to see ways Advocates can support survivors.
Advocates specialize in trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches to understanding the unique needs of survivors here at UCSC. CARE Advocates are certified as Sexual Assault Counselors (California Code, Evidence Code – EVID § 1035.2) and Domestic Violence Counselors (California Code, Evidence Code – EVID § 1037.1). The California Evidence Code grants Counselors privileged communication with victims that protects confidential communication between the Counselor and survivor.
Survivors can receive therapy and be connected with advocacy services at the same time. Advocacy sessions are designed to provide emotional support, psychoeducation, and information about coping skills.
Confidentiality
The CARE office is a confidential space – meaning that anything you disclose to a CARE advocate cannot be shared with anyone outside the CARE office without your permission or in the case of one of the scenarios described below. Our confidentiality ensures that survivors can speak freely with their advocates to understand their rights and options without initiating a report to Title IX, the police, or any other entity. We do not share information about you or your involvement with our office, including with your parents, family members, friends, professors, etc, without your explicit permission.
The only time when an advocate may need to break confidentiality is if:
- You may be a danger to yourself or someone else.
- You inform us of child abuse or neglect that is occurring to someone who is currently under the age of 18.
- You inform us of elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect that is currently occurring.
If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, please feel free to give our office a call to consult with one of our advocates. If you are interested in learning more about CARE’s Confidentiality, you may access the agreement here.
Advocacy Services
CARE uses a trauma-informed approach and we do our best to understand the complexities each survivor faces. We are here to support you by providing compassionate advocacy services. We prioritize your autonomy and decision-making process while providing the free and confidential services listed below.
Academic & Work Support
If you’re experiencing academic or workplace difficulties due to your circumstances, CARE Advocates can assist in multiple ways. Advocates may facilitate changes to your class/work schedule, support conversations with professors/employers, and provide other necessary accommodations based on your needs.
Accompaniment
A CARE Advocate can accompany and support you in various situations, including filling reports with Title IX and/or law enforcement, medical appointments, investigative interviews with relevant authorities, court hearings, student conduct meetings, and accompanying you to other appointments.
Crisis Intervention
In moments of crisis, CARE Advocates are here to assist you in accessing emergency assistance, offering emotional support, clarifying your rights and options, and supporting you in making decisions about your next steps.
Emotional Support
CARE Advocates hold regular appointments with clients to provide emotional support and psychoeducation, process trauma, and develop coping skills. Please note that appointments with CARE Advocates are different from counseling or therapy sessions. If you are interested in therapeutic support, please reach out to CAPS or request a referral from your Advocate.
Medical Support
CARE Advocates can offer medical support by accompanying you to medical appointments and sharing options and resources regarding your medical care. If you feel that you may need medical support, including forensic exams, prescribed medications, STD testing, pregnancy tests, etc, please take a look at our brief guide on steps to take following interpersonal violence or sexual assault.
Resource Connections
CARE Advocates provide needs assessments to survivors to discuss housing, safety, food access, transportation, and other basic needs. Advocates may provide referrals to Slug Support and other resources as appropriate.
Reporting Support
CARE Advocates are available to assist survivors by supporting them in understanding their reporting options and accompanying them to meetings with the Title IX Office, Law Enforcement, or the District Attorney’s Office. To learn more about reporting options, please visit Know Your Rights. If you have any questions about reporting support, you can make an appointment with an Advocate at our Appointment Request Page.
Safety Planning
CARE Advocates can collaborate with you to develop comprehensive safety plans tailored to address both emotional and physical safety concerns. We can provide information about different protective orders and guide you through the process of obtaining them. Additionally, we offer support in consulting with university police to understand your rights regarding physical protection. If you have safety concerns, an advocate may be able to help you gain accommodations for housing, work, transportation, or other accommodations as needed.
- A Survivor is someone who is currently undergoing or has completed the recovery process. This term is also used when addressing both the immediate and enduring impacts of sexual violence and intimate partner harm. On the other hand, a victim usually refers to someone who has recently encountered violence and it is frequently utilized when referencing the legal system. While some individuals identify as victims, others prefer to identify as survivors. CARE acknowledges and respects individuals’ language preferences. ↩︎