MenCARE (Creating Attitudes for Rape-Free Environments) is a campus-wide prevention program to end sexual violence through education, cultural change, and leadership development. As with Project D.A.T.E., MenCARE is sponsored by University Counseling Services and Strength United. The centerpiece of MenCARE is student peer education through presentations and outreach events. MenCARE is student-driven from every aspect of the campus community including Greek organizations, athletics, residential advising, and cultural organizations. Objectives include increased awareness about rape, sexual assault, and rape culture; increased understanding of how rigid gender norms and toxic masculinity contribute to rape culture; knowledge about where to receive help in response to a sexual assault; and positive attitudes towards promoting safety in interpersonal relationships.
If you are interested in becoming a MenCARE peer educator, submit an application. If you have questions about MenCARE, call (818) 933-9492 or contact MenCare via email.
What is MenCARE?
We are a group of undergraduate and graduate students at CSUN. Co‐sponsored by Strength United and University Counseling Services, MenCARE is a peer education and prevention program addressing the issues of sexual assault and rape on college campuses through facilitating discussions about gender roles and norms and how these contribute to rape culture.
Why MenCARE?
Sexual assault and rape remain a serious health and safety issue on campuses across the nation. Research suggests that involving students as peer educators is an effective way of educating other students on campus. MenCARE strives to bring awareness about how growing up with rigid gender norms contribute to rape culture. Rape Culture can be understood to be one of the primary contributing factors to sexual assault and rape; all genders, including men, have a significant part in keeping the rape culture alive.
What are the goals and purpose of MenCARE at CSUN?
We are looking for interested and committed students of all genders to be trained as peer educators. After the successful completion of the training, you will be prepared to facilitate presentations in classrooms and to student groups. The training will prepare you to lead discussions on issues such as: enthusiastic consent, rape culture, healthy forms of communication, and gender role socialization.
What does being a Peer Educator with MenCARE involve?
You will be asked to participate in group meetings led by a Strength United facilitator. The trainings will involve reading selected articles, lectures, group discussions and experiential learning exercises. This training and involvement will support self‐growth, meaningful connections with other students, leadership/facilitation skills, and professional development.
Resources
Community Resources
The following services are available 24 hours a day.
- Emergency services: 911
- CSUN Department of Police Services dispatch: (818) 677-2111
- Strength United: 24/7 Support, referral, & crisis hotline
- San Fernando Valley: (818) 886-0453
- Santa Clarita Valley: (661) 253-0258
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
- 24-Hour Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE
- National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
- The Trevor Project Lifeline: Crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth (866) 488-7386
On-Campus Resources
- University Counseling Services - Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm: (818) 677-2366, option 1
- University Counseling Services - 24/7 Urgent Care/Crisis Services
- During regular business hours: (818) 677-2366, Option 1
- Outside business hours, including holidays: (818)677-2366, Option 3
- Campus Care Advocates: (818) 677-7492 (confidential resource)
- Klotz Student Health Center: (818) 677-3666
- Title IX Coordinator: (818) 677-2077
- Matador Patrol: (818) 677-5042 or (818) 677-5048. The safety escort service is available from dusk to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
