Personal Safety Education

The Bystander Intervention Training program teaches students about gender-based violence, consent, and bystander intervention skills. Upon completion, students will know how to safely intervene in situations that could immediately lead to violence and how to interrupt a culture that is permissive of gender violence. Students will acquire intervention tools to use in situations that seem risky in order to become effective and active bystanders. The BIT program engages in topics including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, survivor empathy, and consent. This is a virtual event.

• Tuesday, October 15 via Zoom from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, November 7 in-person from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in SV001 on the Rockville campus

*There is a drawing for PowerBeats by Dre wireless earphones. Only those who attend are entered in the drawing.

Sexual harassment is a prominent problem, and it is a large complaint for many MC students.  No one deserves to be sexually harassed!  Sexual harassment interferes with those targeted from learning, working, and living peacefully.  This workshop will engage you in challenging your preconceived ideas about sexual harassment and educate you on how to help prevent it.  To achieve ideal conditions for everyone, participants will learn important knowledge and skills to aid in achieving the safest learning space.  Participants will learn to:

1. Identify sexual harassment behavior and issues and stop them.
2. Identify the difference between sexual harassment and discrimination.
3. Understand and identify boundaries.
4. Recognize correct and incorrect behavior.
5. Become aware of the legal rights and implications related to sexual harassment. 

This is a virtual event.

• Wednesday, November 13 in person from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in SV001 on the Rockville campus.

There is a drawing for an Emerge Helix Content Creator Portable Studio Kit for livestreaming, content creation, and more. The kit includes a LED ring light, microphone, tripod mount, universal holder and rig-to create studio level content with just a smartphone.

Stalking is a serious and dangerous crime that is prevalent in every community in the United States.  Stalking needs to be understood and discussed more frequently.  Everyone plays a role in knowing, naming, and stopping stalking.  This workshop provides a basic overview of stalking, focuses on defining stalking, recognizing the contextual nature of the crime, and provides strategies for participants to get involved in building awareness and supporting victims and survivors. 

• Tuesday, October 1 in person from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in SV001 on the Rockville campus.
• Tuesday, October 8 via Zoom from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

*There is a drawing for a wireless smartphone power stand and fast charger.

This is a film viewing and discussion about relationship violence. In the film are the stories of people impacted by dating violence — survivors who were willing to share their experiences, individuals directly working with victims/survivors, and family members who lost a loved one. In 2005 Bill and Michele Mitchell, whose story is highlighted in the film, experienced an unthinkable loss when their daughter Kristin was killed by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Like so many of the brave voices in the film, Kristin’s relationship seemed normal in the beginning, then everything changed. This film, designed to not only help students understand the spectrum of behaviors that fall under dating violence, but also teach them how to access resources,  be active bystanders in their communities, and demonstrate healthy and positive behaviors in their own relationships.  

• Monday, October 21 in person from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in SV001 on the Rockville campus.

*There is a drawing for 2 Intelli Universal Camera Ring Lights.

A monthly opportunity for those who have completed the Bystander Intervention Workshop to work on strategies and discuss challenges with implementing them.  Participants will renew their pledge as prosocial bystanders and create an action plan to continue working on skills and strategies learned in the Bystander Intervention Workshop. Meets monthly for 1-hr. This is a virtual event.

• Dates TBD
  
  

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. The most dangerous period in an abusive relationship is when the victim attempts to leave, leaves, or has left the relationship. It's easy to tell someone to leave but if it isn't planned with the help of others, it can be lethal to leave. A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave. In this workshop, participants will learn to create a personalized plan to reference whenever they need it. This is a virtual event.

• Monday, October 21 via Zoom from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

*There is a drawing for an iHome Alarm Clock with Bluetooth speaker and USB charger. 

Relationships should be safe and healthy but sometimes, they aren’t. How do you remain safe if the relationship is unhealthy? How do you leave safely? By safety planning, one can help avoid dangerous situations and know the best way to react when in danger. All year, awareness tables, prevention and awareness messaging and events will focus on the need to assess safety and to devise a safety plan.

One way that the Wellness Center promotes health and safety is through Safety Planning. Learn to protect yourself or those you love by implementing and promoting the use of a Safety Plan!

Help us reach students with this information!

• Safety Planning can Save Lives (PDF, )
• Safety Planning Differences (PDF, )
• 10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship (PDF, )
• Safety Plan for College Students (PDF, )
• Healthy Relationship Quiz (PDF, )
• Am I a Good Partner Quiz (PDF, )

Videos links:

• The difference between healthy and unhealthy lovenew window
• How To Stop the Cycle of Negative Relationshipsnew window

BITB Training (Bringing in the Bystander) for faculty and staff to become trainers to help educate MC students via a 90-minute presentation their professor arranges by request through the VAWA Coordinator.

• Dial 7-3333 from any campus phone or 240-567-3333 to reach a campus public safety office.

• Germantown: 240-567-7734
• Rockville: 240-567-4104 
• Takoma Park/Silver Spring: 240-567-1600

• Kristen Roe, 240-567-4279 or Kristen.roe@Montgomerycollege.edu

• Police: Call 911
• Rape Crisis Centers in Marylandnew window
  • Services: Crisis intervention, counseling, and referral; victim accompaniment to hospitals, police interviews, and court to provide support and information about options; 24-hour Crisis Hotline with counselors trained to listen and offer information; individual, group, and family psychotherapy, assistance navigating the legal and judicial systems.
• Sheppard Pratt Emergency Shelternew window
  • Must be referred from county crisis line: 240-777-4000
  • Services: Montgomery County emergency shelter for survivors of domestic abuse.
• Confidential Reporting through the Montgomery County Victim Assistance Sexual Assault Programnew window (VASAP): 240-777-1355, weekdays; 240-777-4357, 24-hour crisis hotline, 240-777-1347, TTY; 240-777-1329, fax; vasap@montgomerycountymd.gov. VASAP has a liaison for each MC campus. Contact a liaison at 240-777-1355.
  • Veronica Zapata Velez, LCPC Therapist (Rockville)
  • Carolina Carbajal, LCPC Therapist (Silver Spring/Takoma)
  • Gloria Bowen, LCSW-C Therapist (Germantown)
• Family Justice Centernew window 240-773-0444
  Services: Safety planning, legal advocacy, immigration consultation under VAWA, counseling, criminal investigation, emergency protective orders, shelter placement
  600 Jefferson Street
  Rockville, MD 20852
  24 Hour Assistance 240-777-4000
• Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Projectnew window
  Services: Case management, survivor empowerment groups
  Helpline: 202-833-2233 speak with an advocate Monday – Thursday, 9:00am-6:30pm and Friday 9:00am-6:00pm
  Multilingual: Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Cambodian, Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mongolian, Pampango, Punjabi, Shanghainese, Sinhala, Tagalog, Ilokano, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault- Sexual Assault Legal Institutenew window 301-565-2277
  Services: Criminal justice advocacy, civil services for survivors
• Maryland State Coalition Against Sexual Assaultnew window: 301-328-7023; info@mcasa.org 
• Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abusenew window
  Services: Counseling, legal, victim advocacy, helpline
  Helpline: 877-885-2232
• Pro Bono Counseling Project Victims of Violence Programnew window
  410-825-1001
• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Centernew window 301-618-3154
  Services: Crisis and short-term trauma counseling, sexual assault forensic examinations, safety planning, victim advocacy
  University of Maryland Prince Georges' Hospital Center
  3001 Hospital Drive 
  Cheverly, MD 20785
• DC Rape Crisis Centernew window 202-333-7273
  Services: Individual and group counseling, advocacy, crisis hotline
• Wendt Center for Loss and Healingnew window 202-204-5021
  Services: Trauma and grief counseling, crisis intervention for domestic violence (Washington, DC)
• Family Health Centernew window
  Services: Individual, group, anger management, Domestic Violence Offenders program
  Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC)new window  202-558-0040
• DAWNnew window
  Services: provides crisis intervention services for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind communities.
  • Survivor Services: Resource referral (restorative justice, medical and legal),Case Management, Wraparound services, Peer Advocacy, Counseling, Support Groups, Resiliency Education.
  • Additional services: they provide alternative services to support community-based healing and self-determination through restorative justice, non-traditional healing services, and intensive collaboration with cultural agencies and organizations.

1140 Third Street NE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC  20002
info@deafdawn.org

DAWN Emergency Hotline (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
hotline@deafdawn.org

The Deaf Hotlinenew window: 24/7 Hotline
855-812-1001

Know the legal definition of rape and the statute of limitation for different sex crimes by searching the laws in your state through RAINN's State Law Databasenew window. It matters where you live because legal definitions may vary by jurisdiction. This is a guide to the laws relevant in your state. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. The information provided in the link about state laws covers various state laws by topic, such as: 

• consent laws new window
• mandatory reporting for childrennew window and the elderlynew window
• HIV/AIDS testing of offendersnew window
• laws and private communicationsnew window
• termination of rapists’ parental rights new window
• lawfully owed DNAnew window
• definitions and penalties of sex crimesnew window
• criminal statutes of limitationsnew window

Under the leadership of then-Senator Joe Biden, Congress recognized the severity of violence against women and our need for a national strategy with the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. This landmark federal legislation’s approach to violence against women combined tough new provisions to hold offenders accountable with programs to provide services for the victims of such violence. VAWA ensured that victims and their families have access to services they need to achieve safety and rebuild their lives by:

• Establishing the National Domestic Violence Hotlinenew window, 800-799-7233; 1-800-787-3224 (TTY, En Español)
• Improving safety and reducing recidivism by developing coordinated community responses that allow community stakeholders to collaborate to prevent and respond to violence against women;
• Focusing on the needs of underserved communities which includes creating legal relief for immigrant victims so that abusers cannot use their immigration status to prevent the victim from reporting to law enforcement.

The VAWA Reauthorization Act was signed into law under President Barack Obama to focus renewed attention and resources on college campuses, under the Campus Sexual Violence Act (“SaVE Act”) provision, Section 304. This requires colleges and universities to document and report dating violence on campus and ensure victim’s safety by mandating schools create plans to enforce protective orders and notify the victim of their rights. VAWA requires colleges and universities to:

• Report domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking
• Adopt certain student discipline procedures, such as notifying victims of their rights, and
• Adopt certain institutional policies to address and prevent campus sexual violence.

For compliance (Clery and VAWA requirements for training and education), the College must document and report awareness and risk reduction programs.  

Education programs include: 

• Primary prevention and awareness programs for all incoming students and new employees
• Safe and positive options for bystander intervention
• Information on risk reduction to recognize warning signs of abusive behavior
• Ongoing prevention and awareness programs for students and faculty 

It is important that we track all prevention and awareness programming for students, faculty, and staff that address the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If you, your department, organization, or groups provided any programs, meetings, or training sessions which were directed at violence prevention, please complete the Montgomery College VAWA Education Programs formnew window.  

Victims' and Survivors' Guide to Domestic Violence During the Pandemicnew window

This guide includes:

• Recognizing Red Flags and Barriers in Abusive Relationships
• Tips on Emergency Planning and Tech Safety for Victims Fleeing
• Support Services for Housing, Immigration, and Financial Independence

College Safety Guidenew window

College can be one of the most exciting, inspiring, and transformative times in your life. To get the most out of your time in school, you'll need to feel safe at all times while you're on or near campus. Unfortunately, not all students do. Whether that's because of their sexual orientation, religious beliefs, gender, or anything else, students don't always feel secure at school. The good news is that crime at colleges and universities is on the decline.