Michigan First Lady Sue Snyder said she hopes a new resource handbook for survivors of campus sexual assault as well as their families and friends will help connect them with the information and options they need to begin the healing process.
The free handbook, which the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board is making available to college campuses around the state, is the latest action by Snyder and a workgroup formed to assist victims of campus sexual assault. The first lady and the group have been working for nine months on developing resources for survivors and will continue the ongoing efforts.
"I hope this handbook will help survivors begin their journey toward healing and enable families and friends to support loved ones who have experienced a sexual assault on campus," Snyder said. "I am proud of the work Michigan has done to address this important issue-but our work is far from over. Together, we must listen more, better support survivors, and continue fighting every day to put an end to sexual assault."
The handbook includes information about sexual assault and common reactions, how to find help and support, medical help and forensic medical care, reporting to law enforcement and campus authorities, and victim rights during those processes.
Last May, the first lady announced the creation of the Campus Sexual Assault workgroup, tasked with developing resources. She also directed the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board to make the handbook available to university and college campuses in Michigan, as well as their community partners. The board, part of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is comprised of seven members appointed by the governor to coordinate and monitor programs and services for prevention of domestic and sexual violence and treatment of victims.
The workgroup unveiled and distributed 500 handbooks to attendees at the third annual Inform. Empower. Prevent. Let's End Campus Sexual Assault summit on Sept. 25 and launched the website www.michigan.gov/CampusSexualAssault.
Michigan colleges and universities and their community partners can order up to 250 copies of the handbook at a time by going to the MDHHS clearinghouse website, www.hpclearinghouse.org/preshowcatagories.cfm, and clicking the sexual assault link.
For additional information about the first lady's initiative to end campus sexual assault, visit www.endcampussexualassault.com.
Published: Mon, Mar 12, 2018
