How to Meet With An Advocate
There are three ways that you can meet with a care advocate:
- Schedule an Appointment: Appointments are encouraged but not required. Appointments last around an hour. To request an appointment, complete our Connect With the Care Center form.
- Walk-In: The Jean Nidetch Care Center accepts walk-ins. Please be aware that you may have to wait depending on our client and staff capabilities.
- Call the Care Line for Emergency Assistance: If you or someone you know are in need of emergency assistance, please call the Care Line at 702-895-0602, where a care advocate will assist from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Confidential Advocacy
Federal and state laws clearly recognize the need for a safe and confidential space for students, staff, and faculty to report experiences of power-based violence.
Confidential campus advocates are required to protect students’, staff’s, and faculty's privacy and confidential information and therefore do not report anything a client says to the university, Title IX, or campus police without the client’s consent.
Exceptions to confidentiality include if the student, staff, or faculty member reveals abuse or neglect of a child, including oneself, if the student is under the age of 18, or of an elderly or disabled adult.
Confidential care advocates assist in the process of working through feelings, identifying needs, and making decisions.
What to Expect from Your Meeting
Hold Space
Care advocates offer a safe and confidential setting where one can speak openly and be heard without judgment or interruption for those experiencing power-based violence.
In a quiet and supportive environment, they are there to listen and help individuals process their thoughts and feelings. Everything shared is kept private, and care advocates will not disclose anything without a client’s consent. There are a few exceptions, which will be explained at the beginning of the first appointment.
Identify Goals, Make Decisions, and Create a Safety Plan
After experiencing power-based violence, victim-survivors may be faced with important decisions. This could include requesting academic accommodations, reporting to Title IX or University Police, or relocating to a new residence.
Care advocates are here to help. They provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental setting where individuals can talk openly and explore their options. Care advocates can also help clients create a safety plan. Safety planning is a process where the client and a care advocate walk through possible actions, resources, and obstacles to help keep them safe. Learn more about safety plans.
Safety Plan Examples
Case Management
The Jean Nidetch Care Center offers case management services to support victim-survivors with decisions that involve multiple steps or when one is exploring several options at once.
For example, you may decide that relocating from your apartment to a dorm is the best choice. In that case, we can help by writing a warm letter of referral to UNLV Housing.
You may also want to relocate while looking for therapy services. Care advocates can assist by helping you identify therapy offices, exploring options for financial support, and providing a warm referral to a provider.
As a confidential office, we will never share your information without your informed consent. This means you would need to sign a waiver of confidentiality. Even with a signed waiver, you have the right to review the information that will be shared about you and your experience.
Accompaniment
Accompaniment is a service where a care advocate attends a meeting or appointment with you at a UNLV office. This could include University Police, Title IX, or the Disability Resource Center.
The goal is to make sure you feel supported and not alone. The care advocate can also serve as a witness if needed.
Before the meeting, the care advocate will meet (in person or virtually) with you to help you prepare. During the meeting, they can provide emotional support and take notes. Afterward, you’ll meet again to debrief, go over what was discussed, and talk through any next steps.
Follow-Up Appointment
Jean Nidetch Care Center offers the option to schedule a follow-up appointment. Follow-up appointments are typically meant to provide the client with an opportunity to ask clarifying questions and/or bring up new questions that arose since the initial appointment.