CARES Program for Survivors of Violence
Support for Survivors of Violence
The CARES (Campus, Advocacy, Resources, and Education) Program for Survivors of violence offers advocacy and support services to students, faculty, and staff who have been impacted by experiences such as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking/harassment and many other forms of violence.
What is Advocacy?
Non-clinical interventions which provide both emotional and practical support strategies for coping with the impact of violence. Examples of the CARES Program services include:
- Trauma-informed, advocacy-based, short-term counseling and crisis management
- Support and assistance for friends, family, and other impacted individuals
- Information about forensic evidence collection, also known as a PERK, and other medical care resources
- Assistance finding safe housing
- Information about counseling options on-campus and in the local community
- Academic support
- Consultation services for faculty and staff about how to support students who disclose sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and/or any other form of gender-based violence
- Information and accompaniment to the following University proceedings:
- Title IX investigations/meetings
- Student Conduct meetings
- Information and accompaniment to the following Criminal/Civil proceedings:
- Reporting to law enforcement
- Criminal court proceedings
- Obtaining protective orders
The CARES Program does NOT give legal advice or serve as advisors in student conduct hearings, but can provide referrals to legal and advising services.
Scheduling an appointment
To meet the needs of our community, our support and advocacy services will be offered in-person and virtually this semester. Our services are available Monday through Friday, 8AM to 5PM. To schedule a meeting with an advocate:
- Email CARESupport@vt.edu and one of our advocates will respond as soon as possible during normal business hours.
- Call 540-231-7806 for more information
The CARES Program operates on the standard university schedule. We are open Monday through Friday, 8AM–5PM, except for holidays and other times the university is closed.
If you have an emergency or need to speak to someone immediately and CARES is closed, please call the Women’s Resource Center of the NRV 24-hour confidential hotline at 540-639-1123.
If your safety is in jeopardy, please call 911.
A note about confidentiality of services
The CARES Program is here to provide a safe space and will make every effort to preserve our clients' privacy. In certain situations, information may be shared with other university departments in order to assist survivors, to provide for the safety of survivors, and/or provide for the safety of the campus community. If you have questions about confidentiality and privacy at the CARES Program or other university departments, please contact us for further explanation.
The CARES Program is considered a "confidential resource" under Title IX and is not required to make a Title IX report to the university.
Meet the CARES Program Staff
| Staff Name & Email | Title | Bio Page |
|---|---|---|
| Paige Bik | Assistant Director, Prevention | Paige |
| Rebecca Jarvis | Assistant Director, Advocacy Services | Rebecca |
| Christine Dennis Smith | Co-Director, Advocacy Services | Christine |
| Sarah Wickwire | Advocacy Coordinator | Sarah |
| Bailey Williams | Advocacy Coordinator | Bailey |
For more information, visit safe.vt.edu
Coming Soon, Fall 2023: Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group Virtual and In-Person