“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” -Maya Angelou SAFER PARENTING

 Safer Office: Building 65, UU 217  Phone: (805)   Anonymous text/  Anonymous confidential drop box: Outside of office SAFER

 Sexual assault is any sexual act against another without their consent  Sexual assault includes rape, attempted rape, sexual harassment, sexual battery, and more WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?

 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will be survivors of sexual assault by the time they graduate college  95% of sexual assaults are committed by somebody the victim knows  The majority of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 14 and 25 WHY DO WE TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT?

 Assault occurs everywhere, among all classes, genders and ethnicities  Occurs at Cal Poly  It’s important to know how to respond to a disclosure of your child WHY DO WE TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT?

 Ask “how are you doing?”  Stay Connected  Don’t avoid difficult conversations  Start now HEALTHY WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STUDENT

 Start by believing  Be Knowledgeable About Campus Resources  Refer them, but let them make all the decisions  Check in regularly  Don’t let the assault define your child IF YOUR STUDENT DISCLOSES TO YOU

 Consent cannot be assumed just because you are in an official relationship with someone  Blaming the survivor  What they were wearing doesn’t make a difference  Rape is always the perpetrator’s decision  It is never the victim’s fault DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS

 Don’t avoid talking about sex  Incorporating information about consent.  Build your child’s self-esteem  Encourage assertiveness  Assertiveness: openly expressing and pursuing your desires without limiting another’s freedom to pursue theirs  Challenge objectification TALK TO YOUR STUDENT ABOUT CONSENT

 TONY PORTER

 We’re just sharing this information because sexual assault can occur anywhere and to anyone  Most students who are assertive and know their boundaries will tend to have healthy relationships  It starts with you  You have the power, not the responsibility HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Victims of sexual assault are:  3 times more likely to suffer from depression.  6 times more likely to suffer from post- traumatic stress disorder.  13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.  26 times more likely to abuse drugs.  4 times more likely to contemplate suicide. rainn.org SEXUAL ASSAULT AND MENTAL HEALTH

 Assess for risk of self-harm, suicide or any behavior that is alarming or out of character  Listen nonjudgmentally to your student  Give reassurance and information about resources that can help them at Cal Poly  Encourage appropriate professional help, self- help and other support strategies WAYS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT

 Cal Poly Counseling Services Phone: (805)  Rise Phone: (805) Sexual Assault/Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence Programs and Crisis-Counseling  It’s free COUNSELING RESOURCES

 Safer Office: Building 65, UU 217  Phone: (805)   Anonymous text/  Anonymous confidential drop box: Outside of office SAFER