Support for me

Confidential advocacy: a safe place to start

The Violence Prevention & Advocacy (VPA) office offers advocacy services to all UW Bothell (UWB) and Cascadia College students impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and related experiences. This resource is free and available to currently enrolled UWB and Cascadia College students.

Confidential Survivor Advocates (CSAs) are trained professionals who provide a safe and confidential space for students to explore their options, rights, resources, and referrals. CSAs use a survivor-centered approach, focusing on each individual’s rights, safety, well-being, needs, and wishes to empower them. While advocacy is generally a short-term service, CSAs can refer students to long-term care if needed.

All decisions about possible next steps are entirely up to the student, and meeting with a CSA does not automatically initiate any investigation by UWB, Cascadia College, or the police.

Why students reach out for support

If you or someone you know has experienced harm or feels unsafe, that is more than enough of a reason to reach out to our program. Sometimes, people are hesitant to seek support because they aren’t sure how to describe or categorize what happened to them. Other times, folks can feel like the situation isn’t serious enough, or they don’t know if any action can be taken. Please know you are not alone, these feelings are very common and you deserve support.

Making an Appointment

When students book an appointment, they will be able to see the CSA’s availability and can schedule an appointment. Please note, the VPA is not a crisis service and we do not offer drop in hours at this time. CSA’s schedules may vary and it could take 1-2 weeks to see an advocate depending on availability or time of year. If you cannot find a time that works for you, please email uwbvpa@uw.edu to discuss alternative options.

The First Appointment

If your appointment is in person, you’ll meet with a CSA in a private office or space on the Bothell campus. If you are meeting over Zoom, the CSA will still be in a private space, to maintain your privacy and confidentiality. You can tell your CSA as much or as little as you’d like. There is nothing in particular that you need to bring with you, but if you have documents or notes that you’d like to refer to, you’re welcome to bring them along.