What is an Advocate?

Reaching out for help can be difficult.

However, you may find that a victim advocate can offer you support, information, and access to services that you may not be aware of. You are in control of what decisions and choices you make along your path of healing. An advocate will assist you with exploring and decision-making in a supportive, non-judgmental, confidential environment.

What is a victim advocate?

Victim advocates are professionals with special training to provide trauma-informed support for victims/survivors of crime (e.g., sexual and relationship violence). Often, they work for student affairs or college health centers on campuses. Within the community, there are a variety of settings in which they work, such as crisis centers, non-profit agencies, prosecutors’ offices, police stations, legal firms, and hospitals.

Victim advocates provide information about victims’ rights, safety planning, resources, reporting options, programs, protocols, policies, counseling options, and more. They assist victims/survivors with filing of paperwork or accessing services (e.g., victim’s reparations, reasonable accommodations, counseling).

Victim advocates facilitate support groups and provide individual advocacy and support sessions. As a support person and with the permission of the victim/survivor, they may accompany victims/survivors to law enforcement interviews, medical/forensic examination, meetings with campus officials (e.g., Title IX, investigative, conduct meetings), or judicial and court proceedings. In addition, a victim advocate may serve as a liaison between various services and the victim/survivor as needed

How is a victim advocate contacted?

A victim advocate may be contacted directly by the victim/survivor or by a third party (e.g., law enforcement officer, medical provider, Title IX coordinator, residence hall staff, a friend, etc.) To access a victim advocate at the University of Arkansas, email survivor@uark.edu or call 479-575-4000. In the event of an immediate need for police reporting or forensic examination, on call staff/volunteer advocates are available by calling 479-575-4000. Community resources are also available.

Are advocacy services confidential?

Victim advocacy services are confidential. If someone does not know where to turn or would like more information about available options and resources, a victim advocate can help. A victim advocate can confidentially provide information and answer questions about available resources within a supportive environment. The only exceptions are when the person who has been victimized is under 18 years of age or if a danger to self or others is revealed.

When to contact an advocate?

A victim advocate may be contacted at any point. In some situations, the victim advocate is the first person a victim/survivor may reach out to. In other situations, the victim advocate may be brought into the process by another person who learns of what has happened.

Generally, the sooner a victim advocate becomes part of the response process, the more they can do to provide support and assist with access to resources throughout the process

Know Your Rights

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual violence, in educational programs and activities. All public and private schools, school districts, colleges and universities receiving federal funds must comply with Title IX.

If you have experienced any type of sex discrimination, including sexual violence, under Title IX your school should:

• respond promptly and effectively
• provide interim measures as necessary
• make known where you can find confidential support services
• conduct an adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation
• provide remedies as necessary

For detailed information about your rights, visit knowyourix.or