Survivor Resources

Trigger Warning: Resources for Survivors of Domestic Violence & Abuse

Safety Planning could be a very important tool for individuals that are not in safe environments. This is a personalized plan that you can create with a resource below that will help you stay safer during this time.

How to Create Your Own Safety Plan: Syracuse University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) will work with you to create your own safety plan

        Resources for Survivors of Sexual Assault:

        The Student Government Association unequivocally stands with survivors of sexual assault and we want to do everything we can to support them. 

        • Listen. Communicate without judgment. Just listening with compassion can be incredibly helpful.
        • Believe. Rather than asking a lot of questions, just let them know that you believe them and will support them as best as you can.
        • Give options. Sexual assault is a crime of power and control. In order to give a sense of control back to your friend/son/daughter, allow them to carefully choose what option is best. You can help them explore their options by suggesting available resources – medical, legal, on-campus, off-campus, friends, family, counselors, or any other support you can think of.
        • Be present. If the survivor seeks medical attention offer to be there. Your presence can offer the support they need when talking to various resources or if they want to report.
        • Encourage. Ensure they are practicing good self-care during this difficult time. Remind them that no one has the right to hurt them and that no matter what, it is not their fault that this occurred.
        • Take care of yourself. Hearing about an assault can be difficult. It is important that while you are supporting a friend or loved one, you are also taking care of your own physical and mental health.

        Student Outreach and Core Support:

        Black Survivors:

        • Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community works to respond to and end domestic, sexual, and community violence in the Black community through research, public awareness, community engagement, and resource development.

        Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Survivors:

        • Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence: A national resource center on domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. This organization provides local referrals to survivors in Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and also works to create systemic change by providing training to professionals and advocating for research-based policy changes.

        Immigrant Survivors:

        • Syracuse Immigrant & Refugee Defense Network: The volunteer arm of the WCCNY is known as Syracuse Immigrant & Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN). SIRDN works for immigration justice in Central New York and beyond through organizing, advocacy, and solidarity support for directly affected individuals and their families.  

        IF YOU ARE UNDER IMMEDIATE THREAT OF DETENTION/ABDUCTION OR WITNESSING SOMEONE WHO IS, CALL OR TEXT (315) 400- 0920  

        SI SE ENCUENTRA BAJO AMENAZA INMEDIATA DE DETENCIÓN/SECUESTRO O ES TESTIGO DE QUE ALGUIEN LO ESTÉ, LLAME O ENVÍE UN MENSAJE DE TEXTO AL (315) 400- 0920  

        • National Immigration Legal Services Directory: Searchable directory to find free or low-cost immigration legal service providers by location or detention facility.  
        • Immigrant Defense Project (IDP): Provides Know Your Rights materials, training, and support specifically regarding the intersection of the criminal and immigration systems.  

        LGBTQIA+ Resources:

        Indigenous Survivors:

        • National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: An organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children through policy advocacy and direct service provision. The NIWRC operates the Strong Hearts Native Helpline, which supports Native survivors of violence in crisis, and facilitates local resource connection. You can connect to this hotline by calling 844.762.8483.

        Mental Health & Accessibility Resources:

        Legal Resources:

        • Womenslaw.org: Information about restraining orders and other legal protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
        • The Laws in Your State: A database of state laws including mandatory reporting, confidentiality laws, HIV/AIDS testing of sexual offenders, termination of rapists’ parental rights, and statutes of limitations for each state.
        • Attorney Referral Line: Refers callers to attorneys in their geographic area who can represent them in their pursuit of civil claims and victim restitution. The referral line is not an anonymous service. Their website also gives information about civil lawsuits. Phone: 202.467.8716
        • Take Back The Night Foundation: Legal support for survivors in every state. Referrals to counseling, support, legal aid, hospitals, and nearest TBTN Event Holders. Hotline: 866.966.9013
        • It Happened to Alexa Foundation: The ‘It Happened to Alexa Foundation’ supports rape survivors through the trauma of the criminal trial, in the hopes that more survivors will go through with the prosecution in order to put these perpetrators behind bars.
        • U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: Call or email to report sexual harassment in housing. 844.380.6178 or fairhousing@usdoj.gov.

        Male Survivors:

        • 1in6: Provides educational information and resources for men who’ve been sexually abused or assaulted. Chat with a trained advocate through the national helpline for men, available 24/7. Join a weekly chat-based online support group, facilitated by a counselor. 1in6 also serves loved ones and service providers.
        • Jimhopper.com: This site has articles that discuss the effects of child sexual abuse on adult men and their loved ones.
        • Malesurvivor.org: This site has information and a therapist search for male survivors of sexual violence.

        Military Resources:

        • Safe Helpline: Department of Defense (DoD) Safe Helpline is a groundbreaking crisis support service for members of the DoD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline provides live, one-on-one support and information to the worldwide DoD community. The service is confidential, anonymous, secure, and available worldwide, 24/7 by click, call or text — providing victims with the help they need anytime, anywhere. Hotline: 877.995.5247

        Stalking:

        • Stalking Resource Center: The Stalking Resource Center is a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime. Their website provides statistics on stalking, information on safety planning and other resources.

        Sexual Assault Prevention:

        • National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this website to be useful to scientists, practitioners, advocates, grassroots organizations, and any other professional or layperson interested in current topics related to violence against women and its prevention.
        • Project Respect: Project Respect aims to create discussions and share a positive alternative model of relationships for youth.
        • PreventConnect: The goal of PreventConnect is to advance the primary prevention of sexual assault and relationship violence by building a community of practice among people who are engaged in such efforts.
        • Campus Outreach Services: Offer information and expertise to schools on sexual violence, diversity, sexual harassment, bullying, hate crimes, healthy relationships, assertiveness, eating disorders, suicide, and related risk issues.
        • The Date Safe Project: The DATE SAFE Project, Inc. provides positive how-to skills and helpful insights for addressing verbal consent (asking first), respecting of boundaries, sexual decision-making, bystander intervention, and supporting survivors (opening the door for family and friends).
        • Child Help: Speak Up Be Safe: Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is a newly developed, school-based, child abuse prevention education program that focuses on child safety. It is an evolution of Good Touch Bad Touch.
        • Men Can Stop Rape: Men Can Stop Rape seeks to mobilize men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men’s violence against women.
        • Cyber Bullying Research Center: A clearinghouse for information regarding cyberbullying.

        Suicide and Self-Harm:

        • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Provides crisis suicide intervention, self-harm counseling and assistance, and local mental health referrals. Calls are routed to local centers. Hotline: 800.273.TALK (8255) and for the Spanish line call 888.628.9454 or TTY: 800.799.4TTY (4889)

        Survivors with Disabilities:

        • Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN): Legal, medical, system advocacy and survivor support services. Video Phone: 202.559.5366
        • CAVANET: This organization addresses violence against women, human rights, genocide, and crime victims with disabilities.
        • National Disability Rights Network: NDRN members investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and seek systemic change to prevent further incidents; advocate for basic rights; and ensure accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems for individuals with disabilities.”

        Disability Access and Inclusion Resources:

        SU’s Access and Inclusion Working Committee’s Information, Resources, and Share a Concern Page

        College Students and Drug Rehab: RehabSpot.com is an organization passionate about providing extensive and reliable information on various aspects of substance use disorder and addiction rehabilitation. View information on college students and drug rehab and ways you can seek help if you are struggling with this issue.

        The Internet and Data Privacy: As a student, we have a lot of stake when it comes to data privacy. It boils down to protecting the information held about individuals to prevent others from accessing personal information and/or stealing one’s identity. This comprehensive guide explains how data is collected and what you can do to protect your data in the future. The more you know about it, the better able you’ll be to help protect yourself from a large number of risks.

        Cyberbullying Guide: As the world becomes increasingly interconnected via the internet, new social and security issues are emerging. One such issue is the rise of cyberbullying. This guide takes a dive into what cyberbullying is and how social workers are training to deal with the new field of digital health.