CARE 7, the city of Tempe’s crisis response program, is taking measures to reach ASU students.
When dispatched by Tempe Police, the 24-hour crisis hotline will respond to incidents ranging from domestic violence to sexual and physical assaults to suicides.
Jill Oliver is a clinical professor at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and a member of Tempe’s Family Justice Commission, a group that advises the mayor and city council on ways to promote access to justice and safety for victims of domestic violence.
“ASU students need safe and confidential health care off campus,” said Oliver.
Oliver said a crisis intervention service must be made available to students 24/7. Especially for students who are far from home and family because they may lack physical and emotional support.
Susie Steckner, a public information officer for the city of Tempe and a member of CARE 7, said abuse can take many forms.
“[CARE 7 provides services to] support all victims through safety planning, connection to shelter and community resources, assistance with the criminal justice process and orders of protection, counseling and support groups, alternative trauma healing services such as yoga, music, and art, and emotional support,” she said.
Steckner said CARE 7 prides itself on its continuum of care, meaning that the program encounters people at a point of crisis in their lives and continues to support them throughout healing and recovery.
As a former student counselor, Oliver said she has seen students often worry about confidentiality when reporting incidents related to domestic violence. Despite ASU strictly abiding by FERPA and other rules to protect identities, Oliver said it is important to have an available service that is not the university.
At a council meeting on Sept. 20, council members discussed the program and action they would take during the month of October to raise awareness about domestic violence.
Anastasia Stinchfield, one of the council members and a social worker for the program, said CARE 7 will serve any victim even if the crime was not committed in Tempe.
“Our goal is to get them connected to the best resource near where they live or where the crime occurred,” she said.
If a crime was committed in Phoenix, CARE 7 will connect them to an advocate from that area.
Stinchfield said, “We have victims who just request [services from] CARE 7 because that’s the most appropriate and the most comfortable for them so we won’t turn them away.”
In an interview, Stinchfield said, “Crime can happen to anyone. It can happen anywhere and it is not always obvious to the eye. We cannot assume that crime can only happen to certain people.”
At the council meeting, Stinchfield also gave details about the Tempe Advocacy Center that is set to open this month.
Services provided at the center include financial assistance, coordination with law enforcement, and emergency housing.
Stinchfield said financial assistance services can look like helping domestic violence victims pay for gas or rent.
CARE 7 has advocates working with the Tempe Municipal Courts and filling out victim impact statements. The morning after an arrest is made victims have the right to be heard in court. But Stinchfield said there are barriers that prevent them from going to court the next day such as lack of transportation, no child care or the victim being afraid.
CARE 7 members help victims through this process by connecting a victim to an advocate to guide them through the process of filling out order protection. Another instance would be three-way calling the judges so victims don’t have to walk into a courtroom which can be very intimidating and uncomfortable for victims, Stinchfield said.
“[As of 2022] In three months we served 405 people with that [process]” said Stinchfield.
Stinchfield said having the Family Advocacy Center will allow the CARE 7 members to provide their services all in one place.
Oliver said it has been a priority to have the facility within close distance of the ASU campus. The location has yet to be released to the Tempe Family Justice Commission.
“It has always been important to me to continue this advocacy and even as my role is removed from social work. Although, some days are hard. Students are simply hurting,” said Oliver.
Contact the reporter at piruther@asu.edu.
