The MSU Center for Survivors and its volunteers provide resources for students on campus and throughout the Greater Lansing area who are impacted by relationship violence and sexual assault, or RVSM. In addition to its support services, the center takes great effort to raise awareness about sexual violence and remove the stigma associated with RVSM.
Survivor Advocacy and Crisis Intervention, or SACI, volunteers provide specialized support to survivors in need of immediate assistance. Crisis advocates provide two types of advocacy services: answering 24-hour hotline calls and crisis chats, and providing in-person crisis support at residence halls or at the Sexual Assault Healthcare Program located in the Student Services Building.
Graduate student Taliah Taylor has worked as a crisis advocate volunteer for the Center for Survivors for two years and describes the center’s work as “support that is meant to take the weight of navigating resources and next steps off the shoulders of survivors and make them aware of their resources.”
As a student in the Master of Social Work program at MSU, Taylor has applied her skills in the crisis advocate role by integrating classroom learning into her volunteer position. She has incorporated a thoughtful approach to communicating resources and applying crisis intervention strategies that take great care not to perpetuate harm or bias.
Taylor has found it especially important to implement this strategy because communities of color are disproportionately affected by RVSM.
Volunteers like Taylor are trained to apply a trauma-informed approach when interacting with survivors. This training also helps volunteers appropriately guide and support survivors in understanding their options and choices when seeking resources, exploring reporting options, accessing medical care and connecting with the Center for Survivors staff.
As a volunteer crisis advocate, Taylor has expressed that the “Center for Survivors is a vital resource that prioritizes survivor-centered services that connect recovery and survivor well-being.”
While crisis advocates represent just one role within the SACI volunteer team at MSU, their presence and work are critical in holistically assisting survivors after distressing interpersonal violence experiences. This peer-led source of community care and support is an essential component in providing survivors with the resources and agency they deserve on their path to healing.
"Being a SACI volunteer has strengthened my passion for helping others and advocating for those who may feel unheard or unsupported," said Taylor. "It has shown me the importance of empathy and compassion and the meaningful difference they can make in someone's life."
MSU students, alum, staff, faculty and community members are eligible to volunteer with SACI. To learn more visit centerforsurvivors.msu.edu.
