Western, St. Joseph’s partner to offer on-campus domestic violence, sexual assault supports
Global News
The partnership will see specialized nurses, doctors and social workers provide services on campus, at no charge, as needed and requested, according to Western.
Officials with Western University have announced new on-campus supports for students who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence as part of a partnership with St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHCL).
The partnership with SJHCL’s Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment program will see specialized nurses, doctors and social workers provide services both at the hospital and on campus, at no charge, as needed and requested, a release from Western University said.
In a statement, Terry McQuaid of Western University said the initiative supplants existing supports offered by the school, with the addition of more supports after hours and on weekends, “in an environment where survivors are most comfortable.”
“The St. Joseph’s program has an outstanding reputation and we’re really pleased we can forge a partnership that builds on trauma-informed pathways for survivors of violence,” said McQuaid, who is Western’s director of wellness and well-being.
The supports that will be offered include emotional support and crisis intervention; physical examination; testing, prevention and/or treatment of sexually transmitted infections; HIV prevention medication; documentation/photographs of injuries and forensic evidence collection, and more, a release from Western read.
“This agreement with Western allows the nurses to meet the students where they are, discuss options of care and support them back to the program if or when needed. The survivor knows that whatever care path they choose, they are not doing it alone,” Cassie Fisher, co-ordinator, medicine services at SJHCL, said in a statement.
“Our hope is that this new model of care will support survivors to feel safer in disclosing and seeking the support and care they need.”
The partnership comes months after the university was rocked by allegations of widespread sexual assaults and drugging on campus during orientation week in September.