Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Empowerment

Confidential support for survivors of gender-based violence

Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Empowerment (CAPE)

• Who does CAPE serve?

  CAPE offers free and confidential advocacy supports to all students, staff, and faculty at DU that are victims/survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and/or sexual harassment. We also support 'secondary survivors' or those people who are friends, family, partners, colleagues - anyone who knows and cares for a survivor in their life.

• What support does CAPE offer?

  An advocate can:

  • simply be a safer, confidential space to talk and explore options
  • connect you to counseling services
  • help access medical care and a Medical Forensic Exam
  • talk through your reporting options and go with you to report to police or Title IX
  • help you obtain academic support and accommodations
  • help you access financial supports
  • and more! 
• How can I make an appointment?

  You can web-book an appointment through your MyHealth Portal, call 303-871-3853, or email cape@du.edu.

• What does an intake appointment look like?

  An advocate can meet with you in person on campus, via Zoom, or over the phone. Once you book your appointment, we upload a Client Rights and Informed Consent form in your MyHealth portal to review and sign. We go over this form together and talk through confidentiality and what that means. 

  You only share as little or as much as you would like. We offer a trauma-informed, judgment-free space where you can talk through an experience, or just learn more about what we offer. We can share what supports we and the campus and community offer and work together to explore choices and resources to see what feels like it would be most helpful. You do not have to report your experience in order to access our services. 

• What is an advocate, and is it the same as a therapist?

  Survivor/Victim Advocates have gone through at least 40+ hour training through the state and hold confidentiality privileges through Colorado State Statute § 13-90-107, similar to a therapist or medical provider. However, a survivor advocate is not a therapist, although we can connect you to counseling services.

  We offer a free, confidential, trauma-informed and non-judgmental space to explore options and work to connect you to any support or resources you identify as a need. We can accompany you to any medical, court, or reporting appointment or meeting as well. 

  We are content experts in the dynamics of abuse, violence, and trauma and also help educate and train members of our campus community on how to be more trauma-informed and to reduce victim-blaming behavior.