The Survivor Support Network, administered through the Office for Sexual Violence Prevention & Education, was developed to provide faculty, staff and graduate students with the knowledge and tools needed to best support survivors of sexual misconduct on Pitt’s campus.
According to one survey, sexual misconduct victimization was reported by 26 percent of undergraduate women, 29 percent of trans and non-binary students, and 16 percent of all students while attending the University of Pittsburgh. These statistics highlighted a need to develop a network of caring faculty, staff and students who are available to support survivors on campus, and led to creation of the Survivor Support Network.
Cohorts for the Survivor Support Network run every fall, spring and summer.
- Membership Description
The Survivor Support Network is a community of trained and caring leaders who are knowledgeable about campus and community resources and committed to supporting survivors in our community. Joining the Survivor Support Network requires:
- Participation in two core workshops that provide basic information about responding to disclosures of sexual misconduct, providing referrals to support resources, and trauma informed engagement.
- Participation in one elective workshop and a Heart-to-Heart with the Survivor Support Network capstone.
Once these workshops and the capstone have been completed, participants receive a kit for supporting survivors of sexual misconduct, a prevention quarter zip, and a certificate outlining their SSN membership.
Members can also decide if they would like to have their name and contact information listed on the Office of Institutional Engagement & Wellbeing website.
- Membership Requirements
Core (all members must complete both trainings)
- Supporting Survivors of Sexual Misconduct
- Trauma Informed Engagement
Elective (all members must participate in one course)
- Stand With and Support with the Women’s Center and Shelter
- Bystander Intervention for Faculty and Staff
- Trauma 101 with Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
- Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct
Workshop overviews with dates and times listed below.
- Participation in Heart-to-Heart with the Survivor Support Network
Participants who cannot attend in November will be invited to the April Heart to Heart with the Survivor Support Network lunch
- Survivor Support Network Completion
Participants who complete all the requirements of the Survivor Support Network will receive the following:
- Survivor Support Kit
- Survivor Support Network Certificate (paper and digital)
- Prevention at Pitt quarter zip
- Ongoing Professional Development
Register for the Survivor Support Network
Core Workshop Overview (must complete both courses)
| Title | About | Dates/Times |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Sexual Misconduct and Reporting Overview | This workshop provides participants with an overview of the issue of campus sexual misconduct and its impact across the campus community. Participants will learn about how to report misconduct and the resources available to survivors of sexual violence on campus as well as in the Greater Pittsburgh area. | TBA |
| Trauma Informed Engagement | This training was developed to provide community members with skills to help them engage with the Pitt community using a trauma focused approach. These trainings will provide participants with time to practice some of the shared skills. | TBA |
Elective Workshop Overview (must complete one courses)
| Title | About | Date/Times |
|---|---|---|
| Trauma 101 | This workshop discusses the effects of trauma, how to provide ongoing support for survivors, and PAAR specific resources. This workshop is facilitated by Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. | TBA |
| Stand With and Support: How to support community members experiencing IPV | This training offered by STANDING FIRM, a program of the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, is designed for staff and faculty of the university to build understanding of the complex issues around domestic/partner violence and how it affects the workplace and the workforce. Attendees will learn how to recognize the signs that a co-worker or student may be dealing with the realities of domestic/partner violence and how to approach and respond to them in a respectful, safe, and productive manner. | TBA |
| Bystander Intervention for Faculty and Staff | Bystander Intervention Training is a discussion-based workshop designed to help participants recognize and respond to sexual harassment and other types of harassment and discrimination in an academic and professional setting. Participants will learn tips for how to intervene and how to report incidents or get help. | TBA |
| Advocacy 101 | Advocacy 101 provides foundational information on advocacy key skills, theories, and practices. This training is designed to help staff members implement survivor advocacy practices into their role at Pitt. | TBA |