Services

The PEAR team works collaboratively to provide community tailored presentations, workshops, professional development, and resources for staff and faculty members at U-M, including Ann Arbor, Michigan Medicine, Flint and Dearborn campuses. PEAR also offers consultations with staff and faculty leaders, as our team assists units as they holistically respond to sexual misconduct that may occur within their communities.

Additionally, PEAR works closely with U-M’s Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Center (SAPAC) to develop a comprehensive prevention plan across campuses by utilizing the three tiered (primary, secondary & tertiary) public health approach to sexual misconduct prevention.

PEAR offers workshops and professional development based on the specific needs of the group/unit/department/school. Both in-person and virtual sessions are available.

Request a Training or Consultation

Policy Awareness & Training for Employees

Sofie Walters from PEAR and Jeff Lange from ECRT on stage presenting policy training.

The PEAR team works closely with Title IX colleagues to provide up to date U-M Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) Policy awareness training for our community.

The team shares basic information about the policy prohibited conduct, facilitates conversations around “Individual with Reporting Obligations” (IRO)’s responsibilities, and helps employees understand their specific status as part of the SGBM Policy.

Policy & Training Topics

Intro to SGBM Policy

In this workshop, the participants will gain a better understanding of the University of Michigan’s expectations and prohibited conduct highlighted in the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) Policy. Through conversations and scenarios, participants will learn more about the reporting process to the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX (ECRT) Office, how to make a report and what happens after a report is made. 

Learning Outcomes

  • Review the SGBM Policy and discuss prohibited conduct such as sexual assault, harassment, exploitation, intimate partner violence, stalking, and retaliation.
  • Discuss the reporting process through the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title (ECRT) Office.
IRO Expectations As Part of the SGBM Policy

In this workshop, participants will discuss the Individual with Reporting Obligations (IRO) role and responsibilities under the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) Policy. The participants will review who is an IRO, what it means to be an IRO, and how they can proactively share their IRO status with peers. 

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify IROs in your community
  • Understand IRO’s role and responsibilities
  • Proactively share IRO status 
Reporting Resources

In this workshop, participants will review the different avenues on how to report behaviors to the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office at UM. They will discuss the role of ECRT and DPSS and where they should report to. Lastly, the participants will gain a better understanding of the IROs and CSAs’ responsibilities.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the different reporting avenues for our community
  • Differentiate reporting to ECRT and reporting to DPSS
  • Understand the reporting obligations of IRO and CSA
Campus Resources for Support and/or Reporting (including confidential resources)

In this workshop, participants will review the different avenues on how to report behaviors to the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office at UM. They will discuss the role of ECRT and DPSS and where they should report to. Lastly, the participants will gain a better understanding of the IROs and CSAs’ responsibilities.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the different reporting avenues for our community
  • Differentiate reporting to ECRT and reporting to DPSS
  • Understand the reporting obligations of IRO and CSA

Prevention Trainings
for Employees 

Kaaren Williamsen, Director of PEAR, presenting at a conference.

PEAR offers customized skill building workshops and professional development based on the specific needs of the group/unit/department/school/college.

Prevention Training Topics

Learning Bystander Intervention Skills

In this workshop, participants will gain a better understanding on how to intervene when witnessing misconduct in the workplace. Through scenarios, they will discuss and practice the four intervention styles highlighted in the bystander intervention toolkit. 

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand bystander effect
  • Reflect on participants identities 
  • Review the bystander intervention blueprint
  • Use the Toolkit to identify the four intervention styles
Creating Healthy, Respectful, and Resilient Work and Learning Environments

In this workshop, the participants will review the Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct (SGBM) Policy and discuss workplace expectations for healthy and resilient environments. The participants will discuss and connect the institutional values and mission to their individual/unit level values and mission. Building upon this reflection, they will acknowledge their individual needs and create a plan for fostering healthy and resilient workplaces.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identity and connect institutional and personal values and missions
  • Discuss U-M expectations based on the SGBM policy
  • Brainstorm and connect institutional expectations (values and policy) with personal needs (professional and social)
  • Acknowledge the impact of unit climate on personal emotions
Supporting and Responding Compassionately to Disclosures of Sexual Misconduct

In this workshop, participants will learn how to respond to disclosures of sexual misconduct. Through reflections and customized scenarios, participants will practice what to say and not to say and how to show empathy.

Learning Outcomes

  • Discuss the importance of providing support and empathy after disclosure to enhance survivors’ healing journey
  • Learn skills and practice how to support survivors using the CARE framework (connection, affirmation, referral, engagement)

Consultations & Community Care

Heather Colohan, PEAR Specialist, leading a circle group.

The PEAR team works with leaders to address community concerns related to preventing or responding to sexual misconduct in their environment. Through community engagements and support, PEAR attends to the ripple effect of harm/concerns that often spread beyond individuals to workplace communities and relationships.

This process can include:

Consultations

Conversations with Leadership

One on one counsel and advising for leaders seeking to develop and maintain organizational climates that are resistant to sexual misconduct. Often this service will develop into an ongoing or sustained professional support relationship. 

Community Prevention Planning

Conversations with units/departments for identifying the specific needs of your community, discussing next steps, and creating a prevention action plan (workshops and training offered by PEAR).

Community Care

Listening Sessions

Facilitated space(s) for staff and/or faculty members within a unit or department to be able to process an incident(s) or impact and/or harm that occurred within their community.

Community Building Sessions

Facilitated space(s) for staff and/or faculty members designed to help build community within a unit or department by providing tools to participants for developing compassion and understanding through intentional conversation and sharing.

Lunch and Learn

Small group workshop to occur over lunch break organized on specific topics related to sexual and gender-based misconduct. Topic areas will vary based upon community specific needs.

Restorative Justice Practices

Session to check-in, reflect, connect, and address the harm that the community experienced. It can include Conflict Coaching, Facilitated Dialogue, Restorative Justice Circles, and Shuttle Negotiation.

“Trainings provide the skills needed by all members of the academic community to identify and change behaviors, each of whom has a role to play in building a positive organizational climate.”

2018 NASEM Report – Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine