The Impact of CAPE: Supporting Survivors and Strengthening Campus Safety

Created by Congress in 1998, the Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program recognizes the unique issues and challenges facing colleges and universities in preventing and responding to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. In October 2022, Holy Family received a three-year, $300,000 grant to support efforts in developing and strengthening trauma informed victim services and strategies to prevent, investigate, and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Housed within Student Life and under the Campus Advocacy, Prevention & Education (CAPE) Office, the program is led by its director, Kate Coffey, providing students, staff, and faculty at all campuses with resources, training, programming, and support initiatives.

“Advocating and empowering others has always been a passion of mine. From a young age I knew I was destined to help others on some level. Creating the CAPE Office has helped me fulfill that professional and personal goal,” says Kate Coffey.

CAPE leads campus-wide coordinated efforts through the lens of the University’s Coordinated Community Response Team, a multidisciplinary group including local victim service providers, Philadelphia police, public safety, health providers, housing and residence life, student leaders, faith-based leaders, representatives from student organizations, and student engagement peers.

With the support of community partners, including Network of Victim’s Assistance - Bucks County, Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence, A Woman’s Place, and the Philadelphia Police 8th District, the CAPE Office has been able to train and educate over 250 Holy Family members to provide free, confidential victim-services 24/7.

Last academic year the CAPE Office held 30 events, including Holy Family’s first annual Take Back the Night. In spring 2024, the CAPE Crusaders (a peer education program) became an official student registered organization, with an executive board and six active members. The CAPE Crusaders engage in peer-to-peer support - including hosting events and attending and facilitating training to other students who may be struggling or experiencing violence. This academic year the CAPE Office held over 30 events, incorporating new ideas from student feedback such as guest speakers, healthy relationship workshops, and more athletic collaboration.

Gender-based violence is no stranger to college campuses. Most current data suggests that one in five cisgender women will be sexually assaulted while in college, one in 13 cisgender men, and one in four LGBTQIA+ folx will be sexually assaulted while in college (source: Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN).

The conversation doesn’t end after a training, event, or workshop with the CAPE office - brave spaces continue to be provided for the community to talk and learn about the detrimental impact of gender-based violence.