Navigating Support: A Guide to UCF Victim Services and Resources in Central Florida

For individuals impacted by crime, violence, or abuse, knowing where to turn for help is crucial. This article provides an overview of UCF Victim Services and other valuable resources available in the Central Florida area, offering support, guidance, and pathways to healing.

UCF Victim Services: A Comprehensive Support System

UCF Victim Services offers free, comprehensive victim advocacy services to students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus who have been impacted by crime, violence, or abuse. These services include:

Confidential Support: Providing a safe and confidential space for individuals to discuss their experiences and explore their options.
Crisis Intervention: Offering immediate support and resources during a crisis situation.
Reporting and Disclosure Options: Explaining the various reporting options available and assisting individuals in making informed decisions about reporting to law enforcement or other authorities.
Safety Planning: Developing personalized safety plans to help individuals protect themselves from further harm.

Extending Support Beyond UCF: Resources in Central Florida

While UCF Victim Services provides crucial support within the university community, numerous organizations in Central Florida offer specialized assistance to victims of crime, violence, and abuse.

Rollins College: A Focus on Victim Advocacy

Recognizing the importance of accessible support, Rollins College has taken steps to enhance victim advocacy on its campus. Junior Aaliyah Hammer-Furbert spearheaded the effort to bring a victim advocate to Rollins' campus because of her passion for victim advocacy. Informational fliers are one method used to promote the new victim advocacy program at Rollins.

Victim Service Center of Central Florida (VSC)

The Victim Service Center (VSC) offers a wide range of services to victims of crime in Central Florida. The Victim Service Center’s main office is down on Michigan Street, which is pretty far from campus. The VSC also offers a 24/7 Sexual Assault Helpline to provide immediate support regarding crisis interventions, forensic exams, Plan B and STI prophylaxis or help with reporting.

Read also: Internship in Victim Advocacy

Harbor House of Central Florida: Addressing Domestic Violence

Harbor House of Central Florida is Orange County's only State-certified domestic violence emergency shelter. Harbor House works to prevent and eliminate domestic abuse in Central Florida by providing critical life-saving services to survivors, implementing and advancing best practices, and educating and engaging the community in a united front.

Office of Domestic Violence

The Office of Domestic Violence is responsible for providing oversight on the administration of state and federally-funded initiatives designed to intervene and prevent domestic violence and support survivors and their families. In collaboration with Florida’s network of certified domestic violence service providers and partners, they have established a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to enhancing advocacy and improving the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes.

Nuevo Sendero: Serving the Hispanic Community

Nuevo Sendero is dedicated to promoting and maintaining public awareness of domestic violence, sexual abuse and family relationships. They primarily work with Hispanic families of diverse backgrounds in several communities in Orange, Osceola and Volusia Counties. Services are provided through education, family counseling, workshops and other special programs to the families and youth in our community.

Stand Up Survivor: Empowering Survivors Globally

Stand Up Survivor is a non-profit organization based in Orlando dedicated to educating, equipping, and empowering domestic violence survivors and their communities globally. They serve survivors who are currently in abusive relationships, those who are thinking of leaving an abusive relationship, those who are ready to leave the relationship, those who have recently left and those who have been gone for a while and are still processing the trauma.

Understanding the Prevalence of Violence

According to the numbers in the 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety report, there were 17 rape offenses, 20 reported instances of dating violence and six reported stalking offenses in 2024 - either on campus residences or on campus property. These statistics highlight the importance of accessible victim services and proactive prevention efforts.

Important Considerations

Confidentiality: Many victim services prioritize confidentiality to ensure individuals feel safe seeking help.
Safety: If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 211 to speak with a crisis counselor. Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear.
Third-Party Resources: Orange County, Florida has prepared a directory of third-party resources for informational purposes only. This list is provisional and subject to revision. The inclusion of an entity on this directory does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the County. The County does not owe or assume any duty to any individual concerning this directory. The County disclaims any warranty, representation, or guaranty, either expressed or implied, as to the content, accuracy, quality, suitability, timeliness, or completeness of the resources or information obtained from this directory. The County expressly disclaims any and all liability for any loss or injury caused, in whole or in part, by its actions, omissions, or negligence in compiling or providing this directory.

Research Initiatives: Improving Support for College Students

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by college students, research initiatives are underway to enhance support systems. Students who have appointments at Student Health Services may be asked to participate in a study. The purpose of this study is to improve our ability to identify and support college students who are experiencing violence in their relationships. We want to know more about the types of violence students might be experiencing in their relationships and what kinds if support would be most helpful for the university to give. Participation in such studies is voluntary and will not affect a student's care or relationship with the university. The questionnaires are stored separately, with the researchers, and are not part of your medical ﬁle. Your decision to participate or not to participate in this study will in no way affect your relationship with UCF, including continued enrollment, grades, employment, or your relationship with the individuals who may have an interest in this study.

Read also: Comprehensive Health Overview

tags: #UCF #Victim #Services #resources