ICARE Sexual Assault Bystander Intervention Workshop

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What is ICARE?

The It's On Us initiative has asked campus organizations to think about ways they will take responsibility for preventing sexual violence and creating a safer campus. ICARE engages students in bystander intervention. In this interactive workshop, students will dialogue with peers in their organization about consent and sexually disrespectful behavior, understand what helps people intervene in sexually disrespectful situations, set a group norm in which sexually disrespectful behavior is recognized as a problem and active bystander behavior is promoted, and learn a variety of intervention skills.

What will the program be about?

During the ICARE program, which is led by three student facilitators who also teach FYCARE workshops, you'll meet with fellow peer group members and have a relaxed, interactive discussion about bystander intervention and how you can feel safe and empowered to stand up in sexually disrespectful situations. The workshop includes activities and discussion about:

  • understanding sexually disrespectful behaviors
  • identifying one's level of comfort with such behaviors, as well as how you think your peers feel about them
  • bystander intervention in action
  • positive intervention options that can be tailored toward individual situations and comfort levels practicing intervention skills
  • available resources and a bystander intervention pledge/plan

What's the history of the program?

The ICARE program was initially developed and funded out of a Student Affairs Strategic Initiative Grant, beginning in 2014-2015. This funding allowed program developers to consult with Dr. Alan Berkowitz, a leading researcher on bystander intervention, to create the workshop. The program has been created, implemented, and sponsored by the following campus units:

  • Women's Resources Center
  • Counseling Center
  • University of Illinois Police Department
  • Office for Student Conflict Resolution
  • Department of Psychology
  • Office of the Dean of Students
  • Office for Access & Equity
  • University Housing
  • Fraternity & Sorority Affairs
  • Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

ICARE and other WRC sexual assault prevention programming won awards from the Moms Association and Dads Association in 2015.

How do I request an ICARE workshop?

Student groups and organizations may request an ICARE workshop here. Please fill it out, and the workshop coordinator (icarestaffuiuc@gmail.com) will get in contact with you to set up a workshop. If you have concerns, questions, or think a different, more customized workshop might better meet your needs, contact Nora Peterson at nepeters@illinois.edu.

How can I become a workshop facilitator?

Currently, ICARE facilitators are highly-experienced facilitators who also lead workshops for the FYCARE program. If you are interested in becoming involved with FYCARE, Community Health (CHLH) 199B: CARE (Campus Acquaintance Rape Education) is a three credit hour course offered to all university students that prepares future facilitators. Visit academic course offerings for more information.