Providing Victim Advocacy and Case Management

The Washburn University Campus Advocate offers confidential victim advocacy and case management to students, faculty, and staff in the Washburn community. You do not need to be the victim of a crime to receive case management services from the Campus Advocate.

Campus Advocates: Molly Steffes-Herman & Dawnielle Newman
Office location: Kuehne Hall, Suite 200 & Building A, Student Services North
Phone: 785.670.3100 
Email: molly.herman@washburn.edu & dawnielle.newman@washburn.edu

The Washburn University Campus Advocate is a trained professional hired to support victims of crime by advocating on their behalf, offering assistance in navigating the criminal justice system, providing emotional support, or simply sharing crime victim rights and reporting options. The Campus Advocate offers these confidential services free of cost to all Washburn University and Washburn Tech students, staff, and faculty.
The Campus Advocate is a confidential person on campus to whom you can talk and ask questions. "Confidential" means that you are able to speak openly about your experiences and the information you share cannot be disclosed to others without your permission except in very limited circumstances. Exceptions include (but may not be limited to) court and other legal proceedings in which records are subpoenaed; if you suggest you intend to harm yourself or others; or abuse of certain vulnerable parties such as children or the elderly is reported or suspected. If the Advocate suspects a safety risk to the campus community, they are required to report it to campus authorities.

The Campus Advocate may provide a variety of services to victims of crime including assistance with the following:

  • Emotional support
  • Providing information on victim rights
  • Providing referrals to campus and community resources
  • providing information about reporting options
  • Navigating the criminal justice system
  • Going with clients to legal proceedings
  • Going with clients who want to get medical assistance
  • Safety planning
  • Case management
Anyone in the Washburn community is encouraged to contact the Campus Advocate if they feel they need assistance.
Services can be accessed by anyone in the Washburn Community.
When meeting with the campus advocate you can expect to receive empathy, compassion, and confidential support.
All of our providers have specialized training in providing victim advocacy and have obtained national certifications in victim advocacy from the National Organization for Victim Assistance. While our advocates are the experts in these areas, in the event the campus advocate is unavailable another Counseling Services provider will be able to support you until you are connected with an advocate.

GET IN TOUCH WITH Counseling Services

Washburn University
Kuehne Hall, suite 200
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
counseling@washburn.edu

Washburn Tech
Building A, Student Services North
5724 SW Huntoon St.
Topeka, KS 66604
Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone
Phone: 785.670.3100
Office Phone: Option 1
24/7 Support: Option 2
University Police: Option 3
Washburn Tech: Option 4

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