WHAT IS VAT?
The Victim Assistance Team (VAT) is a team of trained advocates who are here to provide confidential support and advocacy to Colorado State University students, staff, and faculty and any family or friends who have experienced sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, sexual harassment, and stalking on or off campus, or who are adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
WHAT DOES THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE TEAM DO?
- Advocates assist victims of all genders, and any family or friends to cope with the physical, psychological and legal aftermath resulting from interpersonal violence.
- Trained victim advocates are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide emotional support and information.
- Advocates can provide information about the victim’s choices for getting medical care.
- Advocates can meet with a student in a residence hall, at a designated spot on campus, or another agreed upon location.
- Advocates can accompany a victim to the hospital or the medical clinic at the CSU Health Network if they would like.
- Advocates can support students who want to report to the police and can go with the victim to the police station if they decide to file a report. They can also refer and accompany victims in reporting to the University if the perpetrator is a student or staff member.
- Calling for an advocate does not obligate reporting anything to the police, except when the victim is under 18 or the perpetrator of a child sexual assault is still in a position of power over children. Advocates also have reporting obligations if an individual indicates imminent plans harm themselves or others.
WHO ARE THE ADVOCATES?
Advocates are volunteers (students, staff and faculty) and full-time staff who complete an extensive 45-hour training program. They understand the complexity of the aftermath of interpersonal violence and can assist students in making decisions and obtaining resources. They are educated about legal and medical systems, psychological ramifications of interpersonal violence and can provide choices and information about medical care. Advocates can provide emotional support as the victim seeks resources. The victim remains in charge of making the decisions. Advocates are specifically trained to support individuals across gender and gender identity, relationship types, and sexualities.
VICTIM ASSISTANCE TEAM (VAT) TRAINING
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer advocate for the Victim Assistance Team? Advocates provide support and information to CSU community members who are survivors of interpersonal violence and their support people. Advocates complete a 45-hour training class which is held twice per year. There is an option to receive 3 credits for taking the training (graduate or undergraduate). Interested volunteers will complete an application and an interview before enrollment.
VAT Class Summer 2025
Our next offering of the VAT training course is a one-week intensive in May 2025.
May 19-23, 2025
Monday to Friday
8am – 5pm
If you have questions about volunteering with us, please contact safecenter@colostate.edu.
