Violence Intervention Assitant (VIA)

History:

The Violence Intervention Assistant training program (VIA) was created by the Office of the Victim Advocate (SARPP) to bridge the gap between the trained advocates from SARPP and the broader campus community. By offering a more basic training to a larger and more widespread population, the SARPP is able to provide more victims with the resources that they offer.

Audience/Objective:

This training is targeted towards students who want a basic understanding of the issues surrounding violence against women so that they can become a “safe place” for their friends and family to talk about trauma and victimization and to explore resource options. This training prepares the student to provide basic crisis intervention, help their friend access the appropriate resources, and understand the issues of violence against women in a basic way so that they may help discussions around the issues in a helpful, not hurtful, way.

Process:

In order to become VIA certified, each person must undergo a two-day training (approximately 15 hours total) providing them with a serviceable knowledge concerning, but not limited to: sexual violence and rape, relationship violence, stalking, the mental health consequences of trauma and the medical consequences of trauma. Additionally, the training will include a brief training in the tactics of intervening in a crisis, providing support in a crisis and the knowledge of campus and community resources for further professional assistance.

Upon successful completion of training and receipt of VIA Certification, there will be a plethora of opportunities for the newly trained to join other VIA Peers and members of SARPP in providing further awareness to the community through peer dialogues, speaking opportunities and other programming yet to be named.

Greek Life:

With the consistent trend of high rates of sexual assault in the Greek community, It is the hope of the Office of the Victim Advocate and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life that Greeks will continue to confront sexual assault and relationship violence within their own community as well as take a leading role in promoting awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence to the campus community. With that said, SARPP is working to have at least one VIA Certified member in every chapter.

Athletic Department Pertinence:

As one of, if not the most visible aspects of our university, University of Maryland athletes are under a great deal of pressure to their life in the limelight with the necessity of excelling both as a student and an athlete. Because of the high profile of this University’s prestigious athletic department, they are in a position to model the ideal that students are at Maryland primarily to learn and grow as individuals, with everything else coming second. With the presence of sexual violence within our athletic teams (club and inter-collegiate), it is important to have a presence of knowledge, leadership and guidance that the VIA program can provide.

Residence Assistants Pertinence:

Because the Department of Residential Life (ResLife) at Maryland is here to provide "comfortable and safe housing" for students on campus, it is important for the Resident Assistants (RAs) to be trained to deal with the many problems that students under their care may encounter. Because the VIA program covers so many issues that resident halls face, SARPP finds it in the best interest of RA’s to become VIA certified. With the proper training, SARPP feels that ResLife will be able to further there own standards for life in a residence hall: A) "Community development should be nurtured and responsible citizenship modeled and taught," and B) "Residence halls should promote a safe and secure environment which emphasizes individual responsibility." (Quotations courtesy of ResLife Mission Statement)

Living and Learning Programs:

Although the Living and Learning programs here at the University of Maryland are based on the level of merit of their students, such tight knit and positive result yielding communities are not without the potential for sexual violence to occur. With the high levels of sexual assault that occur amongst acquaintances and in residential facilities, Living and Learning Programs are at an arguably higher risk of instances, but in an excellent position to prove the merit of their programs through the leadership of their members in promoting sexual awareness throughout the campus community.