ICAN provides safety net for victims of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking

Two years ago, the College established an Initial Contact Advisory Network (ICAN) to serve as a resource for victims of sexual assault. This past January, a new core of volunteers was recruited and trained, making it easier for victims to find someone to whom they can turn to for help.

Jackie Deitch-Stackhouse, coordinator in the Office of Anti-Violence Initiatives (OAVI), oversees the ICAN program. She explained that the program is “a network of trained professional staff and faculty members who serve as empathetic listeners for victims/survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking.” The network “facilitates access to the resources [victims] need for healing.”

Deitch-Stackhouse said ICAN was developed through collaborations between the College’s Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) and community partners such as Womanspace, the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and HiTOPS (an organization that promotes adolescent health and well-being).

According to the ICAN Web site, the program is victim-centered. “Victim/survivor assistance is second only to victim/survivor safety. Therefore, the dual purpose of ICAN is to advertise to the victim/survivor that a known safe haven is available…and that the person in that safe haven can help [the victim] become informed about medical, legal, and mental health resources both on and off campus.”

When the program started in 2006, there were 10 volunteers who served as points of contact. For the most part, those original ICAN volunteers were professional staff from the Division of Student Life, many of whom were already serving as “front-line point persons responding to victims,” said Deitch-Stackhouse.

Last year, when Deitch-Stackhouse and the SATF decided to expand the ICAN program, they sought to “open up the recruitment process to the broader campus community,” Deitch-Stackhouse said. Therefore, they solicited input on nominees from the Student Government Association, the Staff Senate, and Faculty Senate.

After an interview process and explanation of what was expected of them as ICAN volunteers, the nominees went through an intensive, three-day training program this past January.

“The training covered basic dynamics of each form of violence, statutory and case law, working with male and LGBT victims, creating a safe environment, listening skills, psychological impact of trauma, coping skills, and resources,” Deitch-Stackhouse said. “We used videos, role-plays, and guest speakers from the community, law enforcement, a survivor, and campus experts to illustrate key concepts.”

Felicia Jean Steele, assistant professor of English, was one of the volunteers who went through the training program this past January. She heard about ICAN through her involvement with Faculty Senate.

“I spend a great deal of time with students … and I regularly teach first-year students,” Steele said. “Since Jackie pointed out that first-year students are disproportionately at risk, I decided that I should have this training to be a resource for them.”

“The training was difficult, but rewarding,” Steele said. “The overall message that we learned … is that our first obligation [is] to preserve the choices of any victim or survivor of sexual assault or domestic or dating violence and to provide them with access to relevant resources.”

Another new recruit this past January was Brunelle Tellis, program coordinator in the Department of Psychology, who heard about the program through her involvement with Staff Senate. “It is important for me to serve as a positive and supportive resource to our students,” said Tellis. “I feel that I can successfully achieve ICAN’s mission and provide to victims/survivors the choice, advocacy, respect, and empowerment they deserve.”

With this latest class of volunteers, there are now 26 faculty and staff ICAN volunteers across campus.

ICAN is just one of the resources available on campus for victims. “We have an entire victim-service response system that includes most resources that address the needs of victims on campus and in the community,” said Deitch-Stackhouse.

“Victims and survivors can turn to a wide variety of campus resources—for example, OAVI, Community Standards, Health Services, Psychological Counseling Services, Residential Education and Housing, ADEP, Greek programs, or Athletics—and obtain information” about the many services available, Deitch-Stackhouse said.

More information on ICAN, as well as a list of the volunteers, can be found on the program Web site at www.tcnj.edu/~sa/antiviolence/ICAN.html.