Section 1: Getting Started
Adapting the Training to Your Institution
Link the Training to Your Institution’s Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy
The Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act (2016) requires all B.C. public post-secondary institutions to have a sexual violence and misconduct policy. Institutions are required to review their policies at least every three years and to include consultation with students as part of the review.
As you prepare your training materials, you will want to make sure that you have the most up-to-date version of your institution’s policy. Every institution has different definitions of sexual violence and misconduct and you will want to revise the training materials to reflect this and include links to the policy in all resources.
If your institution does not have a plain language summary of the policy, you may want to collaborate with on-campus organizations to develop one. Within a campus community, English literacy levels will vary enormously. As well, an accessible policy helps to support victims and survivors of sexual violence in having control and autonomy over their options related to making a disclosure, making a report, and accessing supports, accommodations, and other resources.
Link the Training to Your Institution’s Procedures and Protocols
As you prepare your training, you may want to learn more about your institution’s protocols and procedures related to sexual violence. These protocols and procedures will describe the roles and responsibilities of various departments, services, staff and faculty following a disclosure of sexual violence. It can be helpful to include some specific information about what happens following a disclosure in your training and/or to be able to respond to questions that learners might have.
You also may be designing and delivering your training for students, staff, faculty, and administrators who may be involved in responding to disclosures. You may want to ask about what kind of training they are interested in, e.g., online or in-person, length, “Level 1” or “Level 2.” You will also want to ensure that your training reaches individuals from different areas of the campus community.
Link the Training to On-Campus and Community Resources and Supports
Collaborating with groups and organizations on your campus and in the community can increase the accessibility and effectiveness of your training. Collaboration can lead to the development of new resources, opportunities for including the latest research and best practices on sexual violence prevention and response, and opportunities for co-hosting training and involving guest speakers (such as community support workers or Elders) and a greater diversity of facilitators. Some of the groups you might consider include:
- Faculty, staff, and students from all departments and areas of campus
- Campus-based sexual assault support centres
- Community-based sexual assault response programs and anti-violence programs and services
- Campus-based health and counselling services
- Campus security
- Victim services programs and law enforcement
- Hospital- and community-based health services
- Institutional representatives from senior administration
- Indigenous people and communities (see Indigenous Considerations in the next section)
- Community-based organizations such as multicultural organizations that serve diverse populations and provide support related to sexual violence
Building relationships with a variety of student groups can be one of the most important ways of enhancing your training. This can include international students, students with disabilities, LGBTQ2SIA+ students, Indigenous students, graduate students, fraternities and sororities, and students involved in sex work. They will be able to provide perspectives on the issues that are important or relevant to them and provide guidance on issues such as inclusive language, when and where to hold trainings to increase participation, and barriers to accessing supports and services.
You will want to update any existing lists of resources and supports related to sexual violence. It is good practice to include both on-campus and community-based organizations, 24/7 supports as well as supports specific to various communities (e.g., LGBTQ2SIA+ people, multicultural groups). For information about community based anti-violence organizations, VictimLink B.C. (1-800-563-0808) is a good starting place as they will be able to connect you with organizations in your community.
Locating Community-Based Anti-Violence Programs and Services
VictimLink BC (1-800-563-0808) is a toll-free, BC-wide telephone help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides services in over 130 languages. It can be an important resource to include in learning materials. As well, the service can provide support in identifying programs and services in your community related to preventing and responding to sexual violence. They can help you identify crisis services (available in the evenings and on weekends) and learn about the referral criteria for specific groups and populations. For example, you will want to make sure that resource lists indicate whether a program is trans-inclusive or whether a multicultural program provides services for non-immigrants.
The Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA-BC) website provides information about Community-Based Victim Services, Stopping the Violence Counselling and Stopping the Violence/Multicultural Outreach Programs in BC.