CARE at SARC FAQ

A SAFE is a medical exam performed by a specially trained healthcare provider and is aimed at collecting evidence than can be used in legal proceedings and providing medical care to the survivor. Forensic exams can be obtained with or without reporting to police at the time of the exam. If a survivor is not sure they want to report to police at the time of the exam, they can request what is known in San Diego County as a Non-Participatory Report (NPR). This can allow a survivor time and space to decide if initiating a reporting process feels right to them while preserving time-sensitive evidence.

SAFEs and NPRs are offered at Student Health Services for undergraduate and graduate student survivors for incidents that have occurred within the UCSD Police Department jurisdiction. To learn about your options and to access an exam, please contact CARE to speak to an advocate.

CARE offers a variety of programs available to students, faculty, and staff at UC San Diego. Our student-facing workshops cover a range of topics including consent, bystander intervention, healthy relationships, cybersafety, and CARE services. In addition to this, we offer workshops to UC San Diego employees on bystander intervention in the workplace and supporting student survivors.

CARE also develops and delivers tailored programs upon request.
View the full list of programs on the CARE at SARC website.

CARE has a year-long internship program with the application process occurring the spring quarter prior. CARE Interns support CARE’s Prevention Team with digital marketing, outreach, and program coordination.

Follow CARE at SARC on Instagram (@ucsdcare) to learn when applications have been posted, and we encourage students to apply on UCSD’s Handshake website when they do.

• Listen & Respond Appropriately: Create a safe, and non-judgmental space for your friend to share. Use supportive phrases like “Thank you for trusting me” and “I believe you” to validate what they are sharing. Avoid asking questions about the incident and instead focus on their safety and wellbeing.
• Assess Urgency: There are several situations in which it is more pressing for the survivor to get connected to CARE, as they have rights and resources that they should be made aware of as soon as possible. These circumstances are: (1) possible sexual assault in the past 14 days, (2) esclation of physical violence, (3) approaching academic deadlines, (4) fear for safety, or (5) medical care needed. When in doubt, you can always call CARE to determine how you can best support the survivor and get them connected to our office.
• Connect with CARE: Call CARE’s 24/7 phone line (858-534-5793) or email careadvocated@ucsd.edu to make a referral. You can also offer to call CARE with the survivor or accompany them to our office. This might sound like, “CARE is a resource that can help you right now. Would you like to call them together?” Remember to encourage but don’t force the survivor to utilize CARE.
• Fulfill Reporting Responsibilities (if applicable): If you are a responsible employee with reporting requirements, be sure to let the survivor know as soon as possible, ideally before they have disclosed to you. When making a report, consult your supervisor for guidance and mention your referral to CARE in the documentation. Respect the survivor’s privacy by not sharing the disclosure outside of fulfilling your reporting responsibilities.
• Seek Support for Yourself: Supporting a survivor can be challenging, especially if you have experienced one or more forms of gender-based violence. Engage in restorative self-care practices, utilize your support networks, and access resources when in need.

• Interrupt: Ask a question that’s not related to what’s going on. “Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?” You can also be direct when interrupting by calling attention to what you see happening. “You need to stop. They said they weren’t interested.”
• Distract: Draw attention to something else. “Hey, your car is getting towed!”
• Engage Peers: Involve a friend or someone else around you. “Let’s do something.”
• Alert Authorities: In some situations, authorities may be the best source for help. Examples: RA’s, party hosts, bar staff, designated drivers, Deans, or police.
• Safety First: Keep your safety and the safety of others in mind and let that determine how you respond.

One of the most fun ways to learn about consent is by attending CARE’s workshop, “Yes, No, Maybe?: Clarifying Consent”! This workshop features an overview of consent, recognizing and asking for consent, and navigating rejection in a healthy way.

To learn more or submit a program request, visit the CARE at SARC Workshops & Trainings page.

Yes! CARE’s program, “Cute or Creepy: Practicing Cybersafety,” covers digital boundaries and safety and is geared toward students at UC San Diego. This workshop covers risk reduction tips about online safety, privacy settings, dating apps, social media, and suggestions on how to protect personal information. 

To learn more or submit a program request, visit the CARE at SARC Workshops & Trainings page.

Consider requesting or attending an offering of CARE’s program, “I <3 Healthy Relationships” which provides an overview of healthy relationships, red flags in unhealthy relationships, and opportunities to practice healthy communication skills to address conflict and support relationships.

This program is available to UC San Diego students and can be requested by visiting the CARE at SARC Workshops & Trainings page.