Peer Advocates work with members of the UMD community (victims/survivors/ supporters) who've been impacted by sexual and relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment (power-based violence). Peer Advocates:
- Provide assistance to clients by giving emotional support, CARE resources, crisis intervention, and other on- and off-campus resources. Advocacy services are available in-person, through a HIPPA secure virtual platform and after hours via the CARE crisis line.
- Arrange for clients to obtain a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) or University Health Center medical appointments.
- Accompany clients to meetings with the Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (Title IX), the Police, the Office of Student Conduct, and other on- and off-campus reporting resources if needed.
- Plan and execute a Take Back the Night event and participate in other campus events as requested.
Commitment:
- Peer Advocates should expect to sign up for, at minimum, 6 client appointment time slots per week during the semester (this may vary depending on needs of the clients and office).
The Peer Advocacy class (PEER318) will take place Wednesdays from 4:30PM-6PM during the fall and spring semesters.
- Crisis line duties will be shared with fellow advocates.
Peer Education
Peer Educators educate the campus community about
power-based violence prevention through interactive workshops. As a Peer
Educator, a student has the opportunity to facilitate workshops for other
students, strengthen public speaking and program planning skills, and deepen
their understanding of power-based violence prevention. Peer Educators:
- Present and facilitate workshops about power-based violence prevention and bystander intervention to the campus community.
- Execute educational campus-wide events, such as the Clothesline Project.
- Research and examine education in various public health models and populations.
- Learn about identity, facilitation skills, and program planning in relation to power-based violence prevention.
- Peer Educators should expect to commit to an average of 3-5 hours each week (including class time) to the program.
- The Peer Education class (PEER312 and PEER322) is scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4PM-5PM during the fall and spring semesters.
- The fall course (PEER312) fulfills the Cultural Competency general education requirement. The spring course (PEER322) fulfills the Scholarship in Practice general education requirement.
Peer Outreach
Outreach Peers are the voice of the CARE office and are
ultimately responsible for making the UMD campus community aware of CARE
services and resources for those that have been impacted by sexual assault,
relationship violence, stalking, or sexual harassment. Outreach Peers:
- Inform the campus community about CARE’s efforts to respond to (through advocacy and therapy) and prevent (through education and outreach) sexual and relationship violence.
- Plan and execute large-scale events, create digital and tangible promotional materials, table to promote CARE, and facilitate presentations to student groups, such as CARE101 and selfCARE: Creative Space.
- Build relationships with student groups and campus organizations, conduct focus groups with students, and employ other research/assessment methods to improve CARE outreach and services.
- Examine policies and current events related to power-based violence in order to effectively respond to changing community needs.
- Plan and host Purple Lights Night during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), as well as plan and host an event during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April).
Commitment:
- Outreach Peers should expect to commit to an average of 3-5 hours each week (this includes class time).
- Classes (PEER319) are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4PM-5PM during the fall and spring semesters.
