DSC CARES

dsc cares logo DSC CARES (Creating a Responsible Environment for Students) is a program funded by the Campus Program Grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. Housed in the Falcon HOPE Center, DSC CARES provides education and training programs for students, faculty, and staff to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking/cyberstalking on campus. DSC CARES emphasizes preventing interpersonal violence through the promotion of healthy relationship skills and safe strategies for bystander intervention. Another goal is to help the College strengthen its response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through the provision of trauma-informed practices and victim services.

Through DSC CARES, a coordinated community response team (CCRT) consisting of college staff and community partners was created to help meet training requirements and coordinate access to community-based victim advocacy and services. The CCRT includes representatives from Campus Safety, Counseling and Accessibility, Judicial Affairs, Residence Life, Student Life, Academic Affairs, Admissions, Instructional Resources, and Marketing. Community partners include Family Life Center Flagler/Volusia and the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed by:

a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim
a person with whom the victim shares a child in common
a person who is living with or has lived with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner
a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction in which the crime of violence occurred
any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws

Dating Violence

Dating violence is violence is committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The determination of whether the relationship constitutes dating violence is based on the reporting party’s statement, the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is any sexual act directed forcibly against another person and any sexual act, either forcible or non-forcible, directed against a person who is not capable of giving consent.

Consent

Consent is a knowing and voluntary affirmative decision by each participant to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity.

Consent is active, not passive. It requires clearly communicated, mutually understandable words or actions which convey an unambiguous willingness to engage in sexual activity.
An affirmative statement or action doesn’t constitute consent if the person giving it is incapacitated, has been threatened or coerced, or if their age or mental capacity does not allow them the ability to give consent.
Consent cannot be inferred from silence, passivity, or a lack of resistance.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time during a sexual activity.
Consent to one form of sexual contact doesn’t constitute consent to any other form of sexual contact.
Consent to sexual activity with one person doesn’t constitute consent to sexual activity with any other person.
Consent to sexual activity on one occasion is not consent to sexual activity on another occasion.

Stalking

Stalking is engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress. Course of conduct means two or more acts, including but not limited to, acts in which the stalker directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property.

Bystander intervention program: 3 D’s of Bystander intervention

Programming

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February – Dating Violence Awareness Month
Wear Orange Day
- - One day is selected in the month of February to wear orange to raise awareness about dating violence and show support for survivors of dating violence
  - Wear Orange Day began at DSC in 2023
April – Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) originated in 2001 by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Teal was declared the official color for sexual assault awareness.

Events for sexual assault awareness:
- Teal Tuesdays:
  The public is encouraged to wear teal-colored clothing on Tuesdays throughout the month of April to show support for survivors and raise awareness about sexual assault.
  Teal Tuesdays began at DSC in 2022
- Denim Day
  Denim Day is an international event held the last Wednesday in the month of April to raise awareness about sexual assault and to protest against victim-blaming (clothing is not consent). Denim Day began in 1999 in response to a survivor of sexual assault in Italy being blamed for wearing tight jeans on the day of her assault. On Denim Day, people are encouraged to wear denim.
  
  Denim Day began at DSC on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 in partnership with Family Life Center Flagler/Volusia.
October – Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Purple Thursday
- - Purple Thursday is held on the third Thursday in October. People are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors of domestic violence and to raise awareness about domestic violence.
    
    Purple Thursday began at DSC in 2022.

Reporting Options and Resources

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Confidential - Campus Resources

Counseling and Accessibility Services (CAS)

Counselors are college employees that provide confidential support and services. Counselors are available on the Daytona Beach campus and on five of the regional campuses. Services are available on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Call 386-506-3038 to reach a counselor on any campus.
Nonconfidential - Campus Resources

Campus Safety

Any incidents of sexual misconduct or interpersonal violence should be reported to Campus Safety. Campus Safety can provide immediate safety and assist with contacting law enforcement and emergency medical services. If you choose not to make a report to law enforcement, you will still receive assistance from the College. Campus Safety officers are available on all campuses. Call 386-506-4444 to reach a Campus Safety officer on any campus.

Campus Safety’s webpage for sexual misconduct: https://www.daytonastate.edu/safety-and-security/sexual-misconduct/

Student Title IX Coordinator

Any incidents of sexual misconduct or interpersonal violence that occur on campus or at any activity sponsored by the College should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will ensure that students have access to available resources; inform students of their rights and options, including any procedures for pursuing an institutional or criminal complaint; and coordinate supportive measures to ensure that students continue to have access to the benefits of education. The Title IX Coordinator also assists students with protective measures; changes to academic, living, transportation, and working situations; and financial aid assistance.

Cerese Ramos - Vice President of Student Development and Student Title IX Coordinator
386-506-3840
cerese.ramos@daytonastate.edu

Office of Student Development/Judicial Affairs

Any incidents of sexual misconduct or interpersonal violence can be reported to Student Development/ Judicial Affairs. Students can contact the Office of Student Development/Judicial Affairs to request protective measures; changes to academic, living, transportation, and working situations; and financial aid assistance.

386-506-4510
judicialaffairs@daytonastate.edu
Local - Off-Campus Resources
Family Life Center: https://flcfv.org/
- Flagler Domestic Violence 24/7 Crisis Helpline: 386-437-3505
- Flagler Sexual Assault Crisis Helpline: 866-456-HELP (4357)
- Volusia Sexual Assault Crisis Helpline: 800-503-7621
- All services are free and confidential.
Domestic Abuse Council of Volusia County dba Beacon Center https://www.dacvolusia.com/
- Volusia Domestic Violence Helpline: 386-255-2102
- All services are free and confidential.
Statewide - Off-Campus Resources

FL Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-500-1119

FL Council Against Sexual Violence Statewide Hotline: 1-888-956-7273

All services are free and confidential.
Nationwide - Off-Campus Resources

Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Victim Connect: 1-855-484-2846

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988

All services are free and confidential

Contact Us

Dr. Nadia Flanigan - DSC CARES Project Director, nadia.flanigan@daytonastate.edu, 506-3295

Contact Dr. Flanigan to request a classroom training, informational materials, or with questions about DSC CARES.

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This project is supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GG-04456-CAMP awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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