Office of Advocacy & Support

Image of OAS Townhouse

The Office of Advocacy & Support (OAS) is committed to building a culture of care that empathetically supports, empowers, and respects the autonomy of GW community members. OAS will be a leader in fostering a community that values and promotes healthy relationships through confidential support and prevention programming. OAS will be a resource for GW community members experiencing trauma or any other form of violence. Our team will partner with our community to cultivate a safer, healthier, and more informed campus and society.

We have recently relocated to 520 22nd St NW Washington DC 20052.

Advocates provide:

Emotional and administrative support, including coordinating interim measures, accommodations, and other supports.
Psychoeducation on the impact of trauma and cycle of violence.
Space to discuss and process feelings and reactions in confidence.
Referrals and resources both on and off campus.

Advocacy Is:

Trauma-informed: meaning we are experts on the impact of trauma on student functioning.
Survivor-centered: our goal is to reduce the burden on survivors as they navigate their recovery. We recognize that the survivor is the expert in their experience.
Empowerment-based: We do not believe in telling anyone what to do; rather, we provide information to help survivors make fully-informed decisions.

Advocacy Isn't:

A substitute for counseling: Advocacy might feel therapeutic, but it is not therapy.
Medical Advice: While we encourage survivors to access medical care, we do not provide medical advice.
Legal advice: We cannot provide legal advice however we work closely with local organizations that provide free legal services for survivors.