Sexual Abuse Peer Advisors serve as a campus resource to those students who have been confronted with issues of sexual abuse. These students could be survivors of abuse themselves (either recently or in the past), or be secondary survivors (UGAs, friends, family, or partners). A SAPA provides support, referrals, and advocacy.
SAPA is a peer advising group sponsored by Dartmouth College's Health Resources Department (in Dick's House). The Sexual Abuse Awareness Program Coordinator serves as the advisor.
The philosophy of the SAPA program is based upon the following Shared Beliefs and Values:
Each SAPA has completed 22-24 hours of training, typically broken down into two-hour sessions. SAPA training is offered during Fall and Spring terms. This training is designed to give SAPAs the knowledge and ability to learn all the information necessary to be a good resource to survivors of sexual abuse. The content of the training includes crisis intervention training, medical issues, intimate partner violence, police procedures and medical evidence collection, understanding the COS (Committee on Standards), personal safety, and other issues.
The SAPA trainings for 2008-2009 school year are planned for Fall Term 2008 and Spring Term 2009. Training for 2009-2010 will take place during the Summer 2009 and Winter 2010 Terms. If you are interested in participating in our training, download an application (Word doc 26.5KB), which is now available for Spring Term 2009. Please submit all completed applications for Spring 2009 to Michelle de Sousa by February 16, 2009. Commitment to all sessions is mandatory!
Part of the role as a resource to students here at Dartmouth, a SAPA will also participate in a variety of programming, both large and small scale. Through participation at different programs, SAPAs will provide support to students that have been affected by sexual violence, support fellow peer advisors who are also raising awareness, and lastly, to continue their own education around sexual abuse and other related issues.
A few examples of programs that SAPAs are involved with are:
Consent Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sex Festival, V-Day/Vagina Monologues, Speak Out, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
To find out who our current SAPAs are, go to the “SAPA” Blitz Bulletin which includes a short biography about each active SAPA and their contact information. Please feel free to call, Blitz, or visit whichever SAPA you feel most comfortable speaking with or Blitz SAPA with any inquiry. We are happy to talk with you!
