CARE to Stop Violence Peer Programs
Campus Advocates Respond and Educate (CARE) to Stop Violence Peer Programs address power-based violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence, sexual harassment, and stalking. Our programs provide students with practical experience that helps students meet their personal and professional goals. Students also earn 6 course credits! Peers will learn about power-based violence, support survivors on campus, develop their public speaking skills, and gain program planning experience.
CARE offers three Peer Programs:
CARE Peer Educators earn credit to educate the campus community about power-based violence through interactive workshops. CARE Peer Educators serve under the Assistant Coordinator for Prevention Education and specialize in power-based violence prevention. As a Peer Educator, a student has the opportunity to facilitate workshops for other students, strengthen public speaking and program planning skills, as well as deepen their understanding of 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 is scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4PM-5PM during the fall and spring semesters.
What do CARE Peer Educators do?
- Present and facilitate workshops about power-based violence 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.
CARE Peer Advocates serve under the direction of the CARE Clinical Coordinator. 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 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). Additionally, peer advocates will also be responsible for management of the crisis line (3-4 weeks in the fall and spring semester-with the exclusion of university holidays). The Peer Advocacy class will take place Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00 PM during the Fall and Spring semesters.
What do Peer Advocates do?
- 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 HIPAA 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-/off-campus reporting resources if needed.
- Plan and execute a "Take Back the Night" event and participate in other campus events as requested.
CARE Outreach Peers serve under the direction of the Coordinator for Outreach and Assessment at the CARE to Stop Violence office. 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 should expect to commit to an average of 3-5 hours each week (this includes class time, which is 2 hours per week). Classes are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4PM-5PM during the fall and spring semesters.
What do Outreach Peers do?
- 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 CARE 101 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.
Applications Open January 27th, 2025.
Current undergraduate students may apply. Applications accepted during the 2024-25 academic year are for admission to the program during the 2025-26 academic year. Peer Programs are for-credit, year-long courses. Students earn six credits total. Students are expected to commit to serve the entire academic year.
All Peer Program participants are required to attend a 40 hour training week before classes start in the fall semester (9am-5pm, August 18th-22nd).
Applications Close March 10th, 2025.
• For questions regarding Peer Advocacy, please email Christina Jay at cjay1@umd.edu.
• For questions regarding Peer Education, please email Lucy Hebner at lhebner@umd.edu.
• For questions regarding Peer Outreach, please email Grace Fansler Boudreau at gfansler@umd.edu.
To complete the application visit go.umd.edu/carepeerapplication