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Domestic Violence Resources

Help if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence.

What To Know:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Learn about ways Cornell takes a stand against domestic violence.

Domestic and intimate partner violence is an issue that affects employees and students in our community.  Cornell University is committed to providing resources to employees who are victims of domestic violence.  Below is a description of the campus and local resources available to Cornell employees in need of assistance.


About Domestic Violence

What is domestic violence? 

  • The willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one person against another. It can include physical violence, sexual violence, threats, psychological violence, economic control, and verbal and emotional abuse. Domestic violence (DV) is prevalent and stigmas and misperceptions about it are pervasive in our society. 

Who is impacted by domestic violence?

  • It is estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience DV at some point in their lifetime. Studies about historically marginalized and/or underrepresented communities (such as transgenderindividuals with disabilities, and people of color), commonly report even higher prevalence. 
  • DV can occur regardless of education level, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, or any other form of identity.


What To Do

Getting help

  • You have the right to be safe.
  • You are not alone, and help is available. Community and Cornell resources are listed at the bottom of this page.
  • Determining what to share and with whom – especially in the workplace – can be difficult. Consider starting with a confidential support resource to explore your needs and options. You may also speak with your local HR representative or a Cornell Work/Life team member (worklife@cornell.edu).
  • Your situation will likely evolve over time and therefore what you want and need will evolve too. Accommodations that may be helpful are outlined below.   
  • Victims of domestic violence are a protected class in the employment provisions of NYS Human Rights Law (read more).     

What victims of DV may need

  • Every situation is different.  An employee might need assistance with alternative housing, transportation, time off from work, medical care, and/or assistance with legal protections, such as an order of protection from the courts.  An Order of Protection is a court order that tells one person what they cannot do to another person, or what contact is allowed.
  • An employee might also need workplace accommodations if they fear their partner may try to contact them at work, such as:
    • change of telephone number, netID, work or home address, work schedule, work location, and/or parking location;
    • transportation arrangements;
    • adjustments to Outlook calendar visibility;
    • time off or flexible scheduling for court appointments, care for themselves and/or members of their families;
    • time off to settle in a new home or to make arrangements for a new home.
  • While some situations may be resolved swiftly, legal matters, caregiving, etc. add complexity and can provide opportunity for abusers to continue to abuse the survivor long after separation.
  • Employees are encouraged to consider contacting a confidential victim advocate who can help an individual decide what is needed both in the short term as well as in the future. 

How to help

  • If you are a manager, please review Cornell’s Guide to Domestic Violence at the Workplace  (best viewed in Chrome/Firefox/Explorer)
  • If you are a colleague, speak to the individual about your concerns and offer to help them access resources. You may ask for guidance from your supervisor, local HR representative, the Cornell Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (607-255-2673), or other appropriate offices.
  • If you are a friend/family member, speak to the individual about your concerns and offer to help them access resources. Concerned individuals may call the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County (607-277-5000) for guidance and other resources identified on this page may also be appropriate.


Resources

Cornell’s Victim Advocacy Program

This program offers confidential assistance to members of the campus community who have experienced harmful, threatening, or violent incidents including domestic violence.  A victim advocate can answer questions, provide support, discuss options, facilitate connections to services and assist with academic, work, or other accommodations.

Calls or email inquiries to the Victim Advocacy Program will be returned promptly during business hours (this is not a 24 hr. crisis service. Please note that to protect confidentiality and for safety reasons, when a victim advocate returns a call and there is no answer, if the voicemail ID is not identifiable as the original caller, a message may not be left).

Advocacy Center of Tompkins County  

The Advocacy Center offers free, confidential support & services for those impacted by domestic/dating violence, stalking, and/or sexual violence. All services are available to people of any age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, ability, or immigration status, and callers to the hotline can remain anonymous if they choose. 

Advocacy Center services include crisis intervention, emotional support, and safety planning; confidential shelter; support and/or accompaniment accessing services such as hospital, police, court proceedings, or social services; legal advocacy including help with orders of protection or emergency custody; individual or group support and empowerment classes; trauma therapy or referrals; and awareness, professional training, & prevention education programming.

Additional support resources for Cornell employees

Cornell Police

  • In an emergency, call 911; for advice and assistance, call 607-255-1111.   Also available is the RAVE Guardian app - this app, free to the campus community, can enhance the user’s personal safety both on and off-campus by turning any smartphone into a personal safety device.  

Employee Emergency CARE Fund

  • Funded entirely by donations from staff, faculty, and other supporters, the Employee Emergency CARE Fund offers grants of $200-$2,000 to employees who have experienced a sudden financial hardship.

Faculty and Staff Assistance Program

  • fsap.cornell.edu/ ; Tel: 607-255-2673. FSAP's professional staff offers free and confidential guidance and support to address issues that may be affecting their personal lives and/or job satisfaction or performance. Services include: personal consultation and needs assessment; information about and referral to campus or community resources and services; short-term counseling; consultation with supervisors, managers, and others who are concerned about an employee or workplace situation; crisis response and community support.

Legal Insurance

  • Finding an affordable attorney to represent you when you are getting a divorce, preparing your will, having trouble with creditors, or buying or selling your home can be a challenge. This is an optional benefit that employees may add during open enrollment, unless experiencing a life event.

Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX

  • titleix@cornell.edu ; Tel: 607-255-2242. The Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX can assist with the discussion of options, resources, and support for Cornell students, faculty, and staff. Learn more about their responsibilities in this video.

Work/Life

  • worklife@cornell.edu Tel: 607-255-1917. The Work/Life team offers support and assistance to employees and their managers regarding accommodations for survivors, child and adult dependent care, parenting, and flexible work arrangements.   

Medical Care

For medical concerns, contact your primary care provider or one of the following options.

Please note that the Advocacy Center and other agencies that serve victims of sexual violence/assault usually offer hospital accompaniment and specialized medical services. 

Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) Hospital

  • Ithaca's acute-care facility for emergency, inpatient, and outpatient needs, 24 /7; 365 days a year. www.cayugamed.org; 607-274-4011 (Emergency Department: 607-274-4411); 101 Dates Drive (Route 96), on the West side of Cayuga Lake - about 15 minutes from Cornell

Urgent Care at Ithaca (formerly Convenient Care)

  • CMC's urgent care clinic; 607-274-4150; 10 Arrowwood Drive, near the crossroads of Route 13 and Warren Road - about 5 minutes from Cornell. 

Well Now Urgent Care 

Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotlines 

Advocacy Center of Tompkins County

New York State Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline