Survivor Advocacy & Healing - CAPE
The Center for Advocacy, Prevention, & Empowerment (CAPE) promotes healing by providing advocacy and support for survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. For those who have survived and are surviving gender-based violence, you are not alone!
All CAPE services are confidential and free of charge.
Connect with a CAPE Advocate
During business hours: 303-871-3853
Email: cape@du.edu
Connect 24/7 with the HCC Counselor on Call: 303-871-2205
Center for Advocacy, Prevention, & Empowerment
1981 S. University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80210
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COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence
Quarantine and physical distancing may bring up feelings of isolation, increased threats to physical and emotional safety, and mental health concerns.
- Increased isolation with abusive partners or family members may result in increased incidents of violence during the pandemic.
- Threats to secure employment and basic needs (shelter, food, money, supplies, etc.) can increase reliance on unsafe people and housing environments during the pandemic.
- Restricted or decreased access to support resources during the pandemic can affect safety planning, the healing process, and sense of safety in seeking medical care or safe shelter.
- Increased minimization or shame can result from feeling that other emergencies/crises are "worse" or "more important" during the pandemic.
- Loss of privacy — including decreased access to privacy on computers and mobile devices, as well as decreased access to private space from which to contact support resources — can result from the pandemic.
- Increased stress during the pandemic can exacerbate triggers around addiction, self-harm, PTSD, and overall mental health for survivors, while simultaneously increasing abusers' need to maintain power and control.
CAPE is committed to providing free and confidential advocacy and support to any DU community member impacted by sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or harassment. We are available remotely, although we recognize that accessing remote services may not be feasible or safe for some survivors during this time. We are here to navigate barriers to support, and available to connect through a variety of platforms. We have also compiled a list of online resources and information here.
Who Are CAPE Advocates?
Our advocates have completed an intensive 40-hour training program. They understand the complexity of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment, and can assist individuals in making their own decisions about how to move forward and access resources. They are educated in medical, criminal, legal, and university systems, and can provide emotional support, information, and options for survivors.
Advocates are not counselors, although they can help connect individuals with a mental health therapy provider if requested.
How We Can Help
CAPE advocates offer many helpful and confidential services free of charge to anyone in the DU community.
- Provide a free, safe, and confidential space for any DU community member impacted by gender violence to talk about what happened, including survivors and their friends and loved ones
- Help survivors navigate the university, medical, criminal, and/or legal systems
- Assist survivors with obtaining a civil order of protection (legal) or a no-contact order (University)
- Accompany survivors to the hospital following an assault in order to receive a medical evaluation and/or a SANE forensic exam, which is used to collect evidence should the survivor decide to pursue a criminal investigation
- Discuss options for financial assistance
- Help report an incident to the DU Office of Title IX, and accompany survivors throughout the investigative process
- Assist with reporting an incident to the Denver Police Department or other law enforcement agencies, and accompany survivors to the police station
- Provide referrals for visa and immigration assistance to victims of crime
- Connect survivors to therapists on campus or in the community, as well as group counseling options
- Arrange for temporary academic accommodations
- Skill-build for developing healthy relationships
- Collaborate with Campus Safety to arrange for private escorts and/or self-defense courses
DU & Community Support
There are many resources available both on campus at DU and in the Denver community ready to offer their help and support to survivors and their loved ones.
Financial Support
The CAPE Survivor Fund was initiated by a group of student activists who recognized the financial burden that gender-based violence often has on survivors.
What Is Consent?
Learn about what constitutes consent, what does not, and how it is defined by both the University of Denver and Colorado State Law.