Resources

How to help a friend who is a victim of dating abuse, sexual harassment or sexual assault:

Identify:

• Recognize and name behavior when it occurs. For example, "This is sexual harassment."
• Stay calm when discussing the issue.
• State that this behavior is not acceptable and could be against the law.

Listen:

• Allow your friend to tell the story in her/his own time and way.
• Acknowledge your friend's feelings without interrupting.
• Credit your friend for the courage to come forward.

Support:

• Educate yourself about the dynamics of gender violence and oppression and share the information with the victim/survivor if they would like this information.
• Help her/him to recognize this violence, understand that it is wrong and it is not their fault; that no one deserves to be hurt no matter what.
• Hold abusers/perpetrators accountable for his/her abusive behavior and actions.
• Provide emotional support; help him/her clarify feelings and find appropriate ways to express them.
• Offer to go with your friend to talk to a trusted adult or to seek professional help.
• Give the victim/survivor local 24-hour information/hotline numbers to contact:
  • Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence: (303) 444-2424 (for dating abuse/domestic violence issues and issues with oppression)
  • Moving to End Sexual Assault: (303) 443-7300 (for sexual harassment, sexual assault issues)
• Call the police if the victim/survivor is in immediate danger.

Teen Resources

• teenpcar.org - Teen site for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Interactive, with links to cool music and video.
  

• promotetruth.org - Online support and information for teens about sexual violence.
  

• teencentral.net - Anonymous help-line web site, by and for teens.
  

• MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault) - Help for victims of sexual violence, and their families and friends. 24-hour hotline (303) 443-7300
  
  
• Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence - Help for victims of domestic violence and dating abuse, and their families and friends. 24-hour info and crisis line (303) 444-2424

• Emergency Suicide Prevention Line (24 hours), run through the Mental Health Center of Boulder County (303) 447-1665

• Teen Clinic at Women's Health - Free health care; birth control; STI, HIV, & pregnancy testing; and counseling. Open Tuesdays 4-7 PM, and Saturdays 1-6 PM. Free and confidential, parental consent not required. For both males and females under age 20. Call weekdays for an appointment. (303) 442-5160

• O.A.S.O.S. (Open and Affirming Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Support) - Support and activities for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and questioning youth under the age of 21. (303) 678-6139

• Colorado Anti-Violence Project - Serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people affected by violence. (303) 852-5094

• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered (GLBT) Resource Center - (303) 492-1377

• Boulder Valley Safe Schools Coalition - provides technical assistance and support to local schools, staff and students on issues of school climate and safety, focusing primarily on QTBLG youth issues. (303) 444-4580

• Mental Health Center of Boulder County- Offers a wide range of mental health services for children, youth, families & adults. (303) 443-8500

• BVSD Safe and Drug Free Schools Office (SAPP) - Violence and substance abuse intervention & prevention (303) 499-3760

• Boulder County Partners - Adults mentoring high-risk youth. (303) 772-1411

• City of Boulder: Children, Youth and Family Services - Information, referral, community (including parent-teen) mediation, in-school advocates, youth opportunities program, and community service. (303) 441-4349

• Boulder County Prevention and Intervention Program - Interventionists assigned for each school can be identified through the high school counseling office or school administration office.
  (303) 678-6135

• B.C.A.P. (Boulder County AIDS Project)- Support, advocacy, and education for people affected by HIV and AIDS
  

• HIV/AIDS Testing and Counseling - Offered through the Boulder County Health Department. Anonymous and confidential. $20.00/sliding scale fee. (303) 413-7500

• Addiction and Recovery Center - A part of the Behavioral Health Program which promotes healthy lifestyle through a wide array of services for anyone experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs. (303) 441-1281

• GENESIS - Services for pregnant and parenting teens. (303) 413-7529

• Boulder County Health Department - Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (303) 678-6150

• Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault

• Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) - (800)-656-HOPE

• National Sexual Violence Resource Center

• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• National Runaway Switchboard - (800) 621-4000

• National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control