IHS seniors Grace Lim and Lydia Doerr have created an 'I Support Survivors Educator Toolkit' for high school faculty and staff to learn how to better support survivors of sexual and relationship violence and how to stand against this violence within the school environment. Click here to view the toolkit and other helpful resources for educators.
If you or someone you know may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault of any kind and would like support and/or accountability, there are options.
Please use the ICSD Student Sexual Harassment and/or Assault Report Form to report incidents, or reach out to the individuals/organizations listed below.
Procedures and Guides
School Staff You Know and Trust
School staff care about and are responsible for the safety and well-being of students. School counseling staff, and in some cases, teachers, coaches, or other staff, can help students plan how to talk with family and friends, as well as how to report incidents.
Lily Talcott, ICSD Title IX Officer
607-274-2134 | lily.talcott@icsd.k12.ny.us
Under Federal Title IX regulations, schools are required to investigate incidents and reports of sexual harassment and assault. They are also able to respond in ways that can increase student safety and their ability to participate in school activities. Learn more about Title IX on the ICSD website and at KnowYourIX.org.
Advocacy Center - Local, 24-Hour Support
607-277-5000 | actompkins.org
Victim support agencies, such as the Advocacy Center, are able to offer confidential support and services to teens with or without parent or legal guardian permission. Advocacy Center staff can help students think through their options, provide emotional support, share information about health and legal rights, and assist students if they want to talk with family, schools, police officers, employers, or other agencies. Learn more at actompkins.org.
RAINN - National, 24-Hour Support
1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org
Sometimes students prefer to talk with someone anonymously. It is possible to talk, text, or chat with trained people from national organizations, as well as locally. With both, the goal is to offer support, increase one's safety, and provide information and options.
Many incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct are crimes under state and federal laws. Depending on the situation, students may want to or need to meet with law enforcement. Advocacy Center staff can answer questions and/or be present during these meetings to support students. In situations where a student's safety is at risk, teens and/or their legal guardians may be able to apply for a court Order of Protection as described here https://opdv.ny.gov/orders-protection.
Remember, while seeking justice and emotional guidance is deeply important, physical health is also crucial. If you have been sexually assaulted, we encourage you to get a post-sexual assault health exam at the Cayuga Medical Center ER (where they can collect forensic evidence), Planned Parenthood, or through your personal physician.
In New York State, people who have been sexually assaulted have the following rights:
Minors under the age of 17 have certain rights to make their own decisions without a parent or legal guardian.
You can have an exam in any hospital emergency department to collect evidence and provide certain medical care related to the sexual assault at no cost to you. If you do not have health insurance, or you decline to use your health insurance, you can ask the hospital to bill the Office of Victim Services.
You can have an advocate from the local rape crisis program stay with you during the exam or be available by phone/video depending on COVID safety regulations.
You cannot be treated differently based on certain characteristics, such as race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, source of payment, sex, gender identity, or gender expression.
Your immigration status or national origin cannot affect your emergency care or services. You can ask for an interpreter if it is hard for you to understand or speak English.
You can have medicine to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as STDs) for free. For HIV prevention, a 7-day pack of medicine can be started at the hospital.
You will be provided information on appropriate follow-up medical care.
