Mental Health Highlight: Campus Advocates Respond and Educate (CARE) to Stop Violence

This summer, we got to connect with Grace Boudreau, Coordinator for Outreach & Assessment at Campus Advocates Respond and Educate (CARE) to Stop Violence. She shares resources for terps whose lives are impacted by (1) relationships with power-and-control issues, (2) incidents of harassment or violence, and (3) much more – along with addressing how to access support. Read on for more information about CARE to Stop Violence, and don’t be afraid to reach out if you or someone you know needs help.

TTC: Grace, thank you for agreeing to interview with us on behalf of CARE to Stop Violence, which is such an important part of our Health Center, our community, and campus resources. Can you start us out by sharing how your office supports the wellness of UMD students?
  • GB: CARE to Stop Violence provides free, confidential advocacy and therapy services to primary and secondary survivors of power-based violence. Power-based violence is a broad term that encompasses many forms of violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment and other unwanted or non-consensual experiences. CARE also works to empower the campus community to prevent violence through educational presentations, events, and outreach activities.
TTC: That’s important and valuable work, especially when people who experience power-based violence might feel like they don’t have many safe and confidential resources. Can you tell us about some of the specific services or programs that you offer to help students in these situations?
  • GB: Any UMD community member can speak to a CARE advocate and receive emotional support, as well as access to resources such as legal and financial assistance, housing resources, medical help, information about reporting, and more. CARE also provides trauma-informed, victim-centered therapy to students. CARE conducts comprehensive trainings and presentations to students, faculty, and staff on a number of topics, including bystander intervention, consent, sexual violence, relationship violence, how to help a survivor, and information about the CARE office. Additionally, CARE hosts events, tables, and conducts outreach to the campus community in order to teach prevention skills and make people aware of the CARE office.
TTC: It sounds like there are a lot of ways that students and staff can benefit from the CARE, support themselves and each other, and provide better community care and support. Thank you so much for filling us in. Now, if there was one thing you would want students to know, what would it be?
  • GB: Students should know that advocates can help clients of CARE learn about different reporting options, both on-campus and off-campus, but that survivors are never pressured or forced to report their experience [emphasis added]. CARE advocacy services are confidential.
TTC: Thank you so much, Grace. It’s so important for resources like this to exist, and for people to know how to access it. I love that your team is specialized in this work too – they understand a lot of what survivors are going through and can walk them through any confusion, conflicting thoughts and feelings, or general unknowns.
Now, normally we would ask how students can find your office, but things will be a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and safety precautions, correct? How can a student access services given the weird situation we’re finding ourselves in?
  • GB: Advocates can meet both virtually and in-person utilizing appropriate safety measures, i.e. wearing a facemask and physically distancing. To schedule a confidential advocacy appointment, please email uhc-care@umd.edu. If it is an emergency call the crisis line at 301-741-3442.
    We are also equipped to offer educational presentations, outreach, and event assistance virtually. For more information contact uhc-care-prevention@umd.edu! CARE has several virtual events planned throughout the fall semester.
    To stay up-to-date with the CARE office or to get involved with our office subscribe to CARE’s e-newsletter at go.umd.edu/CAREUMDNewsletter and follow CARE on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @CAREUMD.