The Voices Against Violence program provides two key services -

Prevention Education and Awareness - Through our Peer Health Advocate program, students work together with associated UHS staff to provide educational programming to residence halls, classes, sports teams and greek organizations on a variety of issues relating to sexual violence including Consensual Sex, Dating Violence, Gender Stereotypes, and Risk Reduction of Sexual Assault, along with other health issues.

This group is also responsible for coordinating with other campus groups and community service organizations various key events throughout the year including the Take Back the Night March, other activities during April's Sexual Assault Awareness Month and "These Hands Don't Hurt" during October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Keep informed of these events on our News and Events Page!

Campus Wide Coordinated Response - The VAV Task Force and the Sexual Violence Response Team is comprised of UHS staff and representatives from Residential Life, Women's Center, Campus Police and others to ensure a coordinated effort is being made with regard to both prevention and victim service response. Confidentiality with regard to victim service response is highly respected at all stages in these meetings. The VAV staff works with these campus representatives to make sure that all authorities on campus are trained as first responders in a victim response situation or at least can make a referral to the VAV Response Coordinator or the Advocates Helpline after hours. We also offer referrals for 24-hour crisis hotlines, community counseling services and rape and domestic violence crisis centers.

If you would like for a VAV staff member train your academic department or your student organization about how to be first responders to a victim of sexual assault and learn about our protocol and forms, please contact Mary Vincitore, UHS's Victim Assistance Specialist, at maryv@umbc.edu or 410.455-3754.