Summary
Extensive college and community resources are available to Ozarks Technical Community College students who have experienced or are currently experiencing interpersonal violence.
OTC recognizes how harmful domestic and dating violence, stalking and sexual assault can be ─ and how they can create barriers for OTC students to succeed academically and personally. Our students don’t have to face these barriers alone. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which makes it the right time to review the help available to Eagles all year long.
We are ready and eager to make sure you find safety and support, and also for your basic needs to be met so you can focus on building a successful future. Numerous college and community resources are available to OTC students who have experienced or are currently experiencing interpersonal violence.
Quick links to OTC resources
If you are an Eagle who needs support and resources ─ including financial help, housing, food, transportation or childcare assistance ─ check in with your College Navigator or make an online report to OTC Cares. A Community Resource Specialist will then reach out to connect you.
Project HEAL helps OTC students receive free and confidential victim services including in-person and virtual support, safety planning, academic advocacy, assistance making reports to Law Enforcement or Title IX, court accompaniment, assistance with Orders of Protection and connection to other campus and community resources.
Free, confidential in-person or virtual counseling is available to OTC students through Counseling Services.
Our Safety and Security team is available at all OTC locations to help you with any safety concerns while you’re on site, including walking with you to and from your vehicle and assisting with safety planning.
If you experience an incident of interpersonal violence, harassment or discrimination on campus ─ or by a member of the OTC Community ─ contact OTC’s Title IX Office. Their role is to make sure that all students have equal access to education and feel safe in the academic environment, despite these forms of harm.
Quick links to community resources
Greene County Family Justice Center
The Greene County Family Justice Center is a community collaboration of public and private agencies dedicated to ending interpersonal violence through prevention and coordinated response by providing comprehensive client-centered, empowerment services in a single location. Organizations on site include Harmony House, The Victim Center, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Greene County Children’s Division, Springfield Police Department, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Burrell Behavioral Health and the Child Support Office of Family Support Division.
Rescue One and The Family Justice Center have partnered to foster pets so that domestic violence victims can leave without fear for their pets’ safety. Pets and owners can be reunited when the victim has obtained safety and stable housing. Contact the Family Justice Center to be connected with the SafePet program.
The Victim Center provides free-of-charge services to victims of violent and/or sexual crimes through 24-hour crisis response, individual and group counseling, personal advocacy and court support. They serve any person who has experienced family violence, sexual violence, stalking, child sexual abuse, human trafficking, armed robbery, kidnapping or the impact of homicide. They also serve survivors of DWI, childhood trauma and all other violent or sexual crimes.
Harmony House provides safe and secure emergency housing to families escaping domestic violence. In addition to shelter services, Harmony House also offers outreach support, advocacy and prevention education services.
