They are specially trained volunteers who care about our campus community and want to support a victimized student through various systems -- forensic exams, police investigations, Title IX and Campus Hearing Board (CHB) proceedings and other legal processes.  Osprey Advocates help to ensure that victims know their rights and options, and that what the victim wishes to occur is supported to happen. 

Osprey Advocates work to decrease the emotional trauma experienced by victims by offering supportive counseling during the crisis.  They also increase a victim’s ability to make an educated decision   about their options by providing information about resources and legal options.  In addition, Osprey Advocates increase the victim’s access to community resources by advocating for the victim, as well as informing a victim of process. How an advocate comforts a victim varies by situation, and may include reviewing options, checking in with other professional helpers, or making sure the victim has all the information he or she needs to make the right decision for them.  An Osprey Advocate provides a shoulder the victim can lean on for support during a traumatic time.

Any Stockton community member who is interested in making a difference in the lives of people on Stockton’s campus who have been impacted by power-based personal violence.  This training is for people interested in volunteering with the WGSC and/or the Avanzar.  However, the work that a volunteer Osprey Advocate does can be very rewarding.  Often, people who are interested in the social service, health sciences, psychology and/or criminal justice fields find this training to be highly valuable in pursuing their career goals.

NO!  The 40-hour state certification training is designed to provide the tools and resources needed to support victims of dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault.

The training is a fast paced interactive training with lead facilitators and guest speakers.  It covers information about how to advocate for victims, how to conduct an intervention, and what resources and referrals are available for victims in Atlantic County. An important part of the training is about confidentiality.  Attendees will need to receive criminal background checks upon completion of the training.

Victims have a number of rights and confidential communication is one of those rights survivors have.  An advocate is not considered to be a responsible employee and cannot be made to disclose information, even to a police officer, the courts, or the University, without the express consent of the victim.  The only exception of when an advocate must disclose information told to them under confidentiality is when there has been or there are threats of child abuse, elder abuse, and/or threats of suicide or homicide.  Confidential communication allows survivors to completely review all their options safely and openly without fear of judgment or retribution.

Not yet.  Upon completion of the training each participant meets the lead facilitator to review the final test and explore what type of advocacy they are interested in.  Not everyone is a match for crisis advocacy, and this is determined by the volunteer and the trainers.  However, there are many volunteer opportunities at WGSC for participants to support, and volunteers who are not able to be certified Osprey Advocates may be matched with these.  Once volunteers are trained, they are able to volunteer as sexual assault response team members (SART), domestic violence response team members (DVRT) and/or by doing prevention work.  The main focus of the training is that volunteers are provided with privileged communication with survivors -- this means that they cannot be compelled to testify in court about what the survivor shared with them without the survivor's permission.  In the state of NJ, advocates must be provided with a minimum of a 40-hour training and be supervised by a lead agency to have privileged communication.

SART stands for Sexual Assault Response Team, the team of individuals who respond to a sexual assault to support the survivor and possibly their loved ones.  The team members include the advocate, the forensic nurse examiner, and possible law enforcement, if the survivor chooses to have them present.  

The Domestic Violence Response Team is a supportive service available to assist victims of domestic violence and their loved ones at the time of crisis. The DVRT Program was state mandated in 2000 with the knowledge that victims of domestic violence are often isolated and trapped in the abusive relationship.  Studies demonstrate that many victims of domestic violence are more likely to return to their abusers if they are provided with little or no support.  Police officers provide protection to victims of domestic violence by arresting and processing the batterer, while DVRT volunteers help the victim to feel less isolated and alone.  DVRT volunteers respond to the police department to provide emotional support, information on domestic violence, community resources and a safety plan.

Now there are three ways to become certified!

• Each Fall, WGSS offers a Peer Education: Sexual Violence Prevention class that is limited to 25 students. Registration is open to all interested students during the registration period.
• Each Spring, training usually takes place on Stockton’s main campus during Spring Break, from 9am to 5pm.  The training is approximately 40 hours and you must complete the entire 40 hours to begin the certification process.  Under certain circumstances, make-up sessions may be provided. 
• You may also receive training through Avanzar, which is offered throughout the year.  

No.  You will need to bring or buy your own lunch and snacks daily though.

Please feel free to stop by the WGSC for more information.  You can also call the WGSC at 609-626-3611 or email WGSC@stockton.edu.

Email: WGSC@stockton.edu or call 609-626-3611 to pre-register! (Registration is subject to final approval by Avanzar and/or WGSC).