Advocacy Services

The advocacy program provides free, confidential support services to students, faculty, and staff impacted by gender-based harm.

Schedule an Appointment

Kate Arbaugh – Survivor Advocate

Julia Ki – Respondent Advocate, MSW Intern

Lauren Allen –  Senior Director of the Women’s, Gender, & Equity Center

Contact Us

advocacy@umbc.edu

410-455-2714

 

Emergency or After Hours Support

If you are unsafe and need immediate assistance, contact UMBC Police at 410-455-5555, or call 911.

If you need to speak to a confidential advocate after hours, help is available 24/7 at Baltimore County’s Rape Crisis Center:

Turnaround, Inc

Hotline: 443-279-0379 Textline: 410-498-5956

If you have been assaulted and need medical attention, A FREE exam, which includes evidence collection, medical care, and HIV exposure consultation, can be completed even if you choose not to involve the police.

Find a SAFE exam

You Are Not Alone

If you are experiencing gender-based harm, including abuse in your relationship, sexual assault, or stalking, or are struggling to cope with your mental health due to experiencing violence, we are here for you.

Schedule an Appointment

 

Advocacy

Our trauma-informed advocates are available to provide a safe space to talk through next steps, with a goal of empowering survivors to make the best choice for themselves.

Appointments are available in-person or virtually Monday through Friday. 

 

We can:
  • Provide a confidential, nonjudgmental space for you to talk about your experiences
  • Help you create a safety plan to address immediate and long-term safety concerns
  • Provide education about common trauma reactions and help Identify coping strategies
  • Share information about your legal rights and reporting options
  • Help navigate campus and community resources

 

Accompaniment

ECR/Title IX

For both complainants and respondents, our advocates are available to walk with you through the process of reporting to ECR. From the initial complaint to the hearing, we can accompany you to meetings with the ECR team and serve as a support person throughout the entire process. We can help you advocate for supportive and protective measures you need to continue your education and provide emotional support throughout what can often be a stressful process. We are a confidential resource and can be an additional support alongside ECR’s case management team.

Other On-Campus Offices

We can also accompany you to file a report with UMBC police and to meetings with other on-campus services for support and resource coordination, including Academic Advocacy, Student Disability Services, RIH, or the Retriever CARE team.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Gender-based harm includes sexual assault, coercion, or harassment, abuse of an intimate partner, and stalking.

Not at all. For some survivors, it is important to talk about the details of what happened. For others, they are not ready to do so, or may never want to. Advocacy can still be helpful in providing resources, coping strategies, and support, without needing to hear anything more than you are ready to share.
That’s ok! The decision on whether or not to report is an individual one, and each survivor has the right to make the choice that is best for them. We can provide space to talk about the pros and cons of all options.

Many survivors of gender-based harm struggle to name their experiences. If you are asking yourself this question, advocacy can be a helpful space to talk about how you are feeling and what support you need.

If you are concerned about someone you know, or are impacted by gender-based harm as a witness, bystander, or loved one, you can meet with an advocate to talk about how to best support survivors, as well as how to take care of yourself emotionally.

 

 

 

The Advocacy Program is a confidential resource, meaning we do not share information with ECR/Title IX without consent.

Speaking with an advocate will not trigger a report to the Title IX Coordinator or otherwise be shared unless given permission to do so. The only exceptions to confidentiality are when there is clear and imminent danger that someone’s life is at risk, there is apparent or suspected abuse of a child or dependent adult, or there is a legal obligation to reveal such information under an enforceable court order.