The expanding sexual assault victim services on campus pilot program (hereafter referred to as campus victim services pilot) supports institutions of higher education to improve victim services on…

The University of South Alabama was awarded a $742,500 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) under the OVW Special Projects program (CFDA 16.029). The award will support the Expanding Sexual Assault Victim Services on Campus Pilot Program, which aims to improve and expand access to survivor-centered, comprehensive, and culturally relevant sexual assault services on college campuses. The University of South Alabama, in collaboration with Lifelines Counseling Services and PRISM United, will implement this 3-year pilot project by expanding existing campus sexual assault services and creating a promising practices guide for institutions of higher education to enhance their sexual assault victim services and advocacy programs.

The expanding sexual assault victim services on campus pilot program (hereafter referred to as campus victim services pilot) supports institutions of higher education to improve victim services on campus by expanding access to holistic sexual assault services on college campuses and creating a promising practices guide for higher education institutions that wish to expand their sexual assault services and advocacy. Campus sexual assault victim services need to be survivor-centered, comprehensive, culturally relevant, flexible, and accessible for all survivors of sexual assault. Therefore, collaborative relationships between campus and community-based victim services providers are critical to ensure access to services. University of south alabama, located in mobile, AL, in collaboration with lifelines counseling services and prism united, will implement this pilot project by expanding existing campus sexual assault services, creating, and documenting their comprehensive victim services model to inform a promising practices guide, and working with the designated technical assistance providers to create the guide for institutions of higher education.