Harbor Training Sessions at UA Designed to Help Victims of Violence Against Women

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Women’s Resource Center at The University of Alabama is now offering Harbor Training registration to faculty and staff members for the summer school sessions.

Inspired by the Safe Zone campaign, Harbor provides a training program to educate faculty and staff on how to best serve victims of violence against women (sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking). Those who complete the program are given an identifying placard to display in their offices, as well as a certificate of completion, helping to create a network of “safe harbors” all over campus.

Harbor Training lasts about 90 minutes and can be conducted as a single meeting or as part of regular staff meetings. The program can also be tailored to address the specific needs and concerns of a department.

The purpose of Harbor is to create a network of safe places all over campus where victims of sexual assault and domestic violence can go to receive assistance. Through the Harbor Training, faculty and staff gain insight and sensitivity to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. Since faculty and staff are among the first individuals a victim might reach to for help, Harbor participants are made aware of the resources that are available to victims of violence and can pass this information along to those in need.

Harbor is a program of the Campus Violence Task Force, made up of representatives from the UA Police, Athletics, Judicial Affairs, Housing and Residential Communities, Black Faculty Staff Association and others. Funding is provided through a Department of Justice grant to reduce violence against women on college campuses.

For more information or to schedule Harbor training, contact Marti McCaleb in the UA Women’s Resource Center at 205/348-5040 or mmccaleb@bama.ua.edu.