USC Sexual Assault Response and Survivor Care

Sexual Assault Response and Survivor Care

It is the university’s belief that survivors of trauma and sexual violence should have the most compassionate response and best possible survivordirected care and consultation options.

Surviving Sexual Assault What Steps You Can Take

In the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, there are options that the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services office (a confidential resource) and the EEO-TIX office (a reporting and investigation office) can provide guidance on.

Important Numbers Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services 213-740-9355 (WELL) Reporting Options EEO-TIX Office 213-740-5086

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services 213-740-9355 (WELL)

Dept. of Public Safety UPC: 213-740-4321 HSC: 323-442-1000

EEO-TIX Office 213-740-5086

Trojans Care for Trojans bit.ly/tc4t

On-Campus Survivor Resource: 24/7 Advocate Services

Rape Kit and Survivor Care

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services

Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services provides crisis intervention and other supportive services, such as counseling and advocacy, for situations related to gender-and power-based harm (e.g.. sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking).

Many of our students are referred to the Rape Treatment Center (Verna Harrah Clinic at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center). Since its founding in 1974, the Rape Treatment Center has been nationally recognized for its pioneering work integrating emergency medical treatment, forensic evidentiary examinations, counseling, assistance with police reporting, information about sexual assault victim rights and options, and other support services all within one location. It is a national model for comprehensive survivor care and has the capacity to store “rape kits” as evidence for years after a sexual assault until the survivor decides to move forward with prosecution. No other sexual assault response center in Los Angeles County has that ability or capacity. All services are free.

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services on-call Advocates aid in arranging transportation to SART centers, arranging medical services and mental health support, and connecting to reporting and campus accommodation offices. All services are confidential.

Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services 213-740-9355 (WELL) How to help a friend who has experienced sexual assault trauma: Listen without judgment • Believe and be supportive Remind them it’s not their fault https://bit.ly/USCadvocate https://bit.ly/USCadvocate

Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center 310-319-4000

Sexual Assault Response and Survivor Care

Frequently Asked Questions Is there anything closer?

In the Los Angeles County region, there are nine SART/SARC (Sexual Assault Response Teams/ Centers) serving a population of 10 million people: Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, LAC-DHS in partnership with USC (Eastern Los Angeles), Long Beach Community Hospital (Long Beach), San Gabriel Valley Hospital (San Gabriel), Little Company of Mary (Torrance), Presbyterian Community Hospital (Whittier), Antelope Valley Hospital, Citrus Valley Medical Center (West Covina), and Pomona Valley Medical Center (Pomona).

Although the LAC hospital is geographically closer to the University Park Campus (8 miles) than Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center (13 miles) and is served by USC physicians, the volume of patients and wait time at a large hospital can be much higher.

The situation is also more complex in terms of USC students who are in the medical programs, raising confidentiality concerns for students who are practicing employees during clinical rotations.

What is involved with a “Rape Kit?”

Why doesn’t USC have its own SART/SARC unit on campus

Other sexual assault survivor services in Los Angeles

You may have heard the term “rape kit,” which is a term commonly used to refer to a sexual assault forensic exam, which is used in criminal prosecution.

SART/SARC programs are typically associated with emergency rooms in hospitals so that survivors can be treated for medical needs in addition to counseling, guidance on options for evidence collection (“rape kit”), and criminal prosecution.

USC also refers students to YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Sexual Assault Crisis Services Program, and Peace Over Violence. These centers provide crisis intervention services, sexual trauma counseling, and advocacy services but do not provide SART/SARC services nor acute medical services.

DNA evidence from a crime like sexual assault can be collected from the crime scene, but it can also be collected from the survivor’s body, clothes, and other personal belongings. Survivors may choose to have a sexual assault f forensic exam to preserve possible DNA evidence and receive important medical care. The process gives survivors the chance to safely store evidence if/when they decide to prosecute.

The length of the exam may take a few hours, but the actual time will vary based on several different factors.

It may be helpful to have a support person—a friend to give you emotional support—as you go through this process.

In Los Angeles County, SART/SARC programs are required by law to operate in conjunction with a licensed general acute care hospital, a licensed basic emergency department or a hospital sponsored program clinic that has met specific requirements approved by the County of Los Angeles to receive patients who are victims of sexual assault/abuse.

These organizations, especially Peace Over Violence, have provided reliable and professional services to students.

However, they service the broad public community of Los Angeles and are not specialized for support issues related to college students, such as academic accommodations, emergency housing on campus, Title IX reporting, counseling services, etc. This is why the Advocates in Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services may serve as a better navigational resource for students.

An Advocate is available to arrange transportation to a SART center and will accompany you through the whole process.

Call 213-740-9355 (WELL) and say: “I’d like to talk to an Advocate.”