This document describes the Bears HEAL Peer-Based Survivor Advocacy program at Missouri State University. It was created to provide additional support to student survivors of interpersonal violence through trauma-informed peer advocacy. The program trains student advocates through a 9-hour curriculum taught by campus and community experts. Trainees learn about topics like rape culture, the impact of sexual violence, active listening, and caring for themselves. Upon completing the training, students can provide support, resources, and information to survivors while respecting ethical commitments and survivor autonomy. The document lists campus and community resources and introduces the current cohort of Bears HEAL peer advocates.

1. Bears HEAL:
Peer-Based
Survivor
Advocacy
Kunti Bentley,
She/Her, Hers,
Director, Project
HEAL, MSU
Shy Wells, She/Her/They, Assistant
Director Multicultural
Programs/LGBTQ+ Student Services,
MSU
Samara Mizutani, She/Her/Hers,
Student Advocate, Global Leaders
and Mentors, MSU
Christie Fletcher,
She/Her/Hers, Victim
Services and Advocacy
Specialist, MSU
Caleb Hatz,
He/Him/His,
Program
Coordinator, Bear
POWER, MSU
Alisa Gates, She/Her/Hers, Director
of Advocacy and Education, The
Victim Center
Daezia Smith, She/Her/Hers,
Leadership Programs
Specialist, International
Programs, MSU
Thomas Bartolotta,
He/Him/They, Community
Organizer, Engage, MSU
Rachel Herron,
She/Her/Hers, Victim
Services Coordinator, OTC

2. THE BEARS
HEAL (HELP,
EDUCATE,
ADVOCATE
AND LISTEN)
PEER
SURVIVOR
ADVOCACY
PROGRAM
WAS BORN
OUT OF A
NEED FOR
CAMPUS TO:
additional support to students who have
experienced interpersonal violence
Provide
educational opportunities regarding on-
campus response to sexual violence
Develop
to students who have consistently expressed
the desire to be directly involved with violence
prevention and victim services
Respond

3. PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT
Utilizing the Foundations of
Advocacy training manual developed
by the National Sexual Violence
Resource Center (and with
permission from NSVRC), the Bears
HEAL Advisory Board developed a
trauma-informed survivor advocacy
training program.
Adapting content to serve our
campus culture and climate and
incorporating local community
resources, we created a curriculum
specific to the needs of the Missouri
State student body.

4. TRAINING
9 hours of training facilitated by
staff, faculty, and students from
the following departments and
agencies:
• Multicultural Resource Center
• The Counseling Center
• OTC Counseling Department
• The Victim Center
• Bear POWER
• Engage
• International Programs
• Department of Criminology and Criminal
Justice

5. Led by experts in field,
comprehensive, trauma-informed
training was provided to students

6. TRAINING
MODULES
Rape Culture
The Spectrum of Sexual Violence
The Impact of Sexual Violence
Active Listening
Trauma-Informed Care
Policies
Introductions to Community
Partners

7. TRAINING
MODULES
Caring for Ourselves
Ethical Commitments
History of Movements to end
sexual violence
Grounding in an Anti-oppression
Framework
Trauma-Informed and Survivor
Centered Advocacy
Supporting Friends and Family

8. ADVOCATES CAN
PROVIDE:
• Support
• Active listening
• Help with outlining options
• Connection to resources
• Research and sharing of information
• Survivor-led, trauma-informed care
ADVOCATES
CAN PROVIDE:

9. ADVOCATES
CANNOT
PROVIDE:
Decision making for you
Counseling or therapy
Advice
Investigation of a case

10. BEARS HEAL
PEER SURVIVOR
ADVOCATES
SPRING ‘23

11. On-Campus
Resources
Missouri State Phone number
University Safety 417-836-5509
Christie Fletcher- MHC-Victim Services and Advocacy
Specialist
417-836-5116
Springfield Police 911
Title IX 417-836-6810
Counseling Center 417-836-5116
OTC Phone number
Safety and Security 417-447-6911
Rachel Herron-Victim Services Coordinator 417-447-7859
Springfield Police 911
Title IX 417-447-7500
Counseling Services 417-447-6974

12. Off-Campus
Resources
Victim Service Agency Phone number
Victim Center 417-863-7273
Harmony House 417-837-7700
Family Justice Center 417-799-1500
LOCAL 24-hour crisis hotline 417-864-7233
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
National DomesticViolence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483

14. BEARS HEAL
Fall 2022 Cohort with
Bears HEAL Advisory
Board