Support for Survivors

You are not alone. There are resources here to help you.

If you have been affected by sexual assault, intimate partner or domestic violence, sexual harassment, stalking, invasions of sexual privacy, or any related type of harm, please know there are resources available to help you. 

A confidential place to start

The PATH to Care Center is a confidential campus office that provides support to anyone who has experienced sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation. 

For 24/7 urgent support, please call the Care Line at 510-643-2005. 

For all non-urgent matters, including appointment requests, please call the office at 510-642-1988. 

PATH to Care advocates can help you understand your resources, rights, and options, including the ones listed on this page.

Community confidential resources (non-campus) 

  • Family Violence Law Center (FVLC): Support and legal assistance for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. 24/7 Crisis Line: 800-947-8301.
  • BRAVE Bay Area (formerly BAWAR): Counseling and hospital, police, and courtroom accompaniment for sexual violence survivors of all genders. 24/7 hotline: 510-800-4247.
  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline also provides a text option (Text "START" to 88788 or chat online

University reporting options

Restraining and no-contact orders

  • Survivors have the option to request a protective/restraining order through law enforcement from the civil division of the Superior Court at any time. These civil court orders protect survivors who have experienced or are in fear of physical violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking by another individual. FVLC can help with this process.
  • The Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) can issue no-contact directives

Other campus confidential resources

  • Social Services in University Health Services (UHS): Provides free individual, confidential group counseling and consultation for students. Phone: 510-642-6074. For after-hours emergency consultation or crisis resource referrals, please call 855-817-5667.
  • Be Well at Work/Employee Assistance: Free, confidential problem assessment and referral for UC Berkeley faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and postdocs. for UC Berkeley staff, faculty, visiting scholars, and postdoctoral appointees. Phone: 510-643-7754.
  • The Ombuds Office for Students and Postdoctoral Appointees: A neutral and confidential resource for navigating informal and formal options. Phone: 510-642-5754. 
  • Staff Ombuds Office: Provides confidential impartial and informal conflict resolution and problem-solving services for all staff, non-senate academics, and faculty who perform management functions. 
  • Faculty OmbudsThe Faculty Ombuds role is a confidential, informal, impartial resource for faculty experiencing work-related problems and conflicts. Phone: 510-642-8788. 

Medical services

TIME-SENSITIVE: After experiencing violence, some aspects of getting medical attention are time-sensitive (within 72 hours of the incident), such as treating injuries, getting tested for STI exposure, and potentially collecting forensic DNA evidence that can be used for reporting. You always have the option to contact an advocacy agency, such as the PATH to Care Center, BRAVE Bay Area, or FVLC for assistance. 

  • Highland HospitalFull emergency care; approved site for forensic evidence collection after sexual assault or relationship violence. Phone: 510-437-4800. Address: 1411 E 31st St, Oakland, CA 94602. 
  • University Health Services Urgent Care: Offers medical care to students, regardless of insurance status. Provides treatment for potential injuries and to prevent sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. UHS is not an approved site to provide forensic evidence collection. Medical costs are covered for student survivors of sexual and relationship violence. For after-hours medical assistance, call UHS Advice Nurse at 510-643-7197.

Evidence collection 

TIME-SENSITIVE: Forensic evidence collection (always sometimes referred to as rape kit testing or SANE testing) is a police process to collect and preserve possible evidence of a crime, and can only be done at approved sites in the county where the incident occurred. If a survivor of relationship violence or sexual assault is considering pursuing criminal charges, it is best if evidence collection occurs in the first 72 hours, the earlier the better. For best evidence collection, if possible:

  • Leave the area where the harm occurred undisturbed.
  • Place each clothing item in a separate paper bag (no plastic).
  • Resist urge to shower, bathe, wash hands, eat, drink or brush teeth.

For more information, please see the Medical Care and Forensic Evidence Collection webpage. You always have the option to contact an advocacy agency, such as the PATH to Care CenterBRAVE Bay Area, or FVLC for assistance. 

Not finding what you're looking for?

Below, you can find resources by service type and/or find resources that specialize in serving survivors with certain identities. 

Resources by service type

24/7 Help available (Hotlines, online chat-lines, other services)

In an emergency, call 911. For urgent help anytime, please contact any of the following campus, local, or national organizations that have hotlines, chat-based hotlines, and other services available 24-hours, 7 days a week.

Academic & workplace supportive measures

Survivors of sexual violence may request reasonable academic and workplace supportive measures or adjustments. A number of campus resources can assist in arranging these supportive measures.

Advocacy services

Confidential advocates are specially trained and can support survivors (and supporters of survivors) with their options, rights, and resources. Advocacy services are available on campus, locally, and nationally.

Basic needs

Basic needs include safe and stable housing, food, hygiene, transportation, healthcare, and financial sustainability. Basic needs assistance is available to survivors of sexual violence.

Conflict resolution

Conflict management and resolution assistance are available on campus.

Counseling

Counseling and other mental health support are available to survivors of sexual violence on campus, locally, and nationally.

Legal services

Survivors of sexual violence have the option to seek legal services.

Medical care and forensic evidence collection (rape kit)

Time-sensitive information: After experiencing harm or assault, you may wish to seek urgent medical attention such as treating injuries, checking for injuries that aren't apparent, getting tested for STI exposure, and potentially collecting forensic DNA evidence that can be used for reporting. Some aspects of getting medical attention are time-sensitive. You always have the option to contact a confidential advocate for help.

Reporting options

Survivors of sexual violence have the choice of whether or not to report it. Survivors may report to the university, law enforcement, or both.

Supporting a survivor & responding to disclosures

When someone comes to you with a concern related to sexual violence and sexual harassment, it’s crucial that you listen, support, and offer resources. This page provides tips and resources for supporting someone who has been impacted by sexual violence and sexual harassment.

Your rights as a survivor of sexual assault

Quick summary of survivors' rights, options, and resources

Resources by community

American Indian/Native Americans/First Nations/Indigenous Survivors

Asian, Arabic, and Pacific Islander communities

Children survivors and their caretakers

Faith-based or spiritual communities

Immigrants and internationals

Latine/Latinx survivors

Support for survivors of trafficking

Survivors who are sex workers

Survivors with disabilities

UC Berkeley resources Disabled Students' Program (DSP) [Serves students] The UC Berkeley Disabled Students' Program (DSP) provides assessment, consultation, and accommodation services to students with disabilities and works closely with faculty and staff to build a more accessible learning environment.

Voice: (510) 642-0518

TTY: (510) 642-6376 Be Well at Work - Disability Management Services [Serves staff and faculty]...