Confidential Advocacy
A safe place to start
Advocacy is a safe and confidential starting point for students who have been affected by any type of relationship violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking. Advocates are trained professionals who understand the dynamics of abuse and harassment, share options for support, and stand by students while they navigate their healing.
How Advocates help:
- Listen and support – Students may share as much or as little as you like about your experience. Advocates are there to listen, provide information about the dynamics of abuse and offer support.
- Safety planning – Preparing a plan to deal with unsafe situations. More information on safety planning.
- Reporting – Assistance with reporting to the UW’s Civil Rights Compliance Office, Cascadia Title IX, or the police. It is every student’s choice whether to report or not to report.
- Academics – Help securing accommodations, emphasizing the right to access your education safely.
- Housing – Help navigating breaking a lease, address confidentiality or on campus housing.
- Medical care – Referrals to clinics and hospitals for medical care.
- Civil and legal advocacy – Help navigating protection orders and legal options.
- Support and counseling referrals – Referrals to on and off campus resources.
What to expect at your first visit:
Meet with an Advocate in the Prevention, Health & Wellness Office or over Zoom.
Schedule an appointment using the Calendly or email: uwbvpa@uw.edu.
Learn about confidentiality.
Confidentiality is an agreement between the student and the Advocate to keep information between them. Our advocates are not required to make a report to the University or police after receiving a disclosure from a student. Advocates do not share whether they are working with a student. Information that is shared with an Advocate is legally protected and no one can access it without the student’s specific, informed permission, or when required by law. You are in charge of your information and who it is shared with.
Share as much or as little as you like about your experiences.
Advocates are there to listen, provide information about the dynamics of abuse and offer support. They are able to help you with navigating options no matter how much information you share.
The Advocate will share how they can help.
The Advocate can help by listening and providing support, making a safety plan, sharing options for reporting, housing assistance, academic accommodations, counseling options, and civil and legal options.
More Resources
The Know Your Rights & Resources guide provides important information on how Advocates can help and what the University can do to support a survivor.
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
Professional staff will answer your call, providing crisis intervention, information, referrals and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 888.99.VOICE (888.998.6423) to connect.
Husky Helpline Through TELUS Health
Actively enrolled UW Bothell and Cascadia College students have access to free real-time, confidential mental health support, 24/7 and in multiple languages through TELUS Health Student Support (formerly MySSP). These counselors are licensed mental health therapists who are familiar with UW Bothell and Cascadia College resources.