Substance and Violence Education Support (SAVES) offers services to aid and educate the Radford University community in areas such as substance use/,misuse, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking and bystander intervention.
SAVES provides free, confidential, short-term, ongoing counseling services to enrolled students on a time-limited basis. Students seeking counseling for issues related to substance use/misuse, recovery, and/or sexual violence can schedule an appointment by emailing, calling, or dropping by the office. If the student’s needs are beyond the scope of practice for counseling within SAVES, the SAVES staff member will assist the student with appropriate referrals.
Support groups are available and facilitated by SAVES professional staff for sexual assault survivors, recovery support, marijuana cessation, and students contemplating changing their substance use behaviors. Students interested in group services must complete paperwork, which they can receive by emailing, calling, or dropping by the office. If group services are not appropriate for the student’s counseling/support needs, SAVES counselors will assist with referrals.
Please note: SAVES staff members do not provide substance use/misuse treatment, court ordered counseling, or documentation for Emotional Support Animal requests.
Students seeking confidential advocacy services for sexual violence issues can schedule an appointment by emailing, calling, or dropping by the office. Students are typically seen for advocacy appointments the same day or within 48 hours as requested. Students will complete brief paperwork and review the SAVES advocacy confidentiality agreement when arriving for the initial appointment. Advocacy services include but are not limited to:
Please note: SAVES staff are not available to provide advocacy services off campus and/or outside of regular business hours. Students seeking advocacy services outside of business hours can contact the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley at 540-639-1123.
SAVES staff DO NOT investigate reported incidents of sexual violence; however, trained SAVES staff members can reach out to reported sexual violence survivors as requested and appropriate to offer support and advocacy services.
SAVES staff are available for crisis intervention related to substance use/misuse, recovery, and sexual violence issues as needed during regular business hours. Students can email, call, or drop in for same day crisis appointments. Students will complete a crisis form and review SAVES confidentiality statement when scheduling the appointment.
SAVES licensed counselors will assist Student Counseling Services (SCS) with crisis intervention if there are no available SCS counselors.
SAVES staff offer consultations for students, faculty, staff, and parents on substance use/misuse, recover, and sexual violence related issues. Consultations are done by phone or in person and can be anonymous. There is no required paperwork for consultation services; however, a record of the consultation will likely be kept.
Most students receiving services from the RU Aware program have been mandated by Radford University's Office of Student Standards and Conduct due to a violation of the University's alcohol and/or other drug use policies. Students can participate in the RU Aware program on a voluntary basis.
The program provides diagnostic and bio-psychosocial assessments, recommendations and referrals, basic alcohol and drug education, and risk reduction and decision making skills building. The RU Aware counselors also address co-morbid mental health and dependency issues to provide referrals to other campus and community resources as needed.
The RU Aware program does not provide substance use/misuse treatment or court ordered substance use/misuse counseling/education.
Providing a safe, comfortable environment for students in recovery to strive academically, attend to their emotional and physical well-being with trained professionals, and connect socially with other students in recovery and allies to students in recovery.
Programs available on topics of bystander intervention, sexual violence issues (consent, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking), and alcohol and other drug use. See below for descriptions of available programs and to request a program.