STAR Central, Legal Aid of Arkansas Partner to Offer New Sexual Violence Resource

STAR Central and Legal Aid of Arkansas have partnered together to offer a new program that increases access to legal advice and victim-centered advocacy for student survivors of sexual and relationship violence.

The new program, called Sexual Assault Resources and Help, or "SARAH," is offered weekly, every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Wellness Center in the Garland Avenue Shops.

SARAH provides the campus community with a confidential, victim-centered, trauma-informed "Help Desk" setting in which a victim/survivor may visit free of charge and learn about available resources, options and general legal remedies.

"The purpose of the SARAH program is to give comprehensive support and advocacy, including general legal services when necessary, to student survivors of sexual violence," said Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert, director of STAR Central. "Blending the services of STAR Central and Legal Aid of Arkansas provides an enhanced, trauma-informed resource to help students to continue moving forward during difficult times with the intention of decreasing adverse outcomes from sexual/relationship violence that may result in less student success and retention."

STAR Central, an office in Pat Walker Health Center's Wellness & Health Promotion department, addresses the issues of sexual assault and relationship violence through the provision of awareness campaigns, education programs, and confidential victim advocacy services.

The addition of the SARAH program continues to reinforce the University of Arkansas' efforts of increasing awareness about sexual violence resources. Most recently, informational stickers (pictured) have been placed in restroom stalls of most buildings on campus, with information on how to report sexual or relationship violence.

Goals for SARAH include:

• Providing compassionate care tailored to each individual's needs.
• Mitigating the effects of victimization on survivors.
• Reestablishing the survivor's choice and control.
• Providing information and education on available resources and reporting processes.
• Providing the opportunity to talk with a trained victim advocate in a safe, supportive, and confidential space.
• Helping the survivor obtain the remedies they need, both within the university and in the civil and criminal legal systems.
• Helping the survivor understand and thereby navigate the on-campus disciplinary proceedings.
• Helping the survivor understand and thereby navigate the criminal process and potential civil remedies.

For more information about SARAH, go to respect.uark.edu.