The SHARPP Center provides services to individuals impacted by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment regardless of gender; age; health status (including HIV-positive); physical, mental, emotional ability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; socio-economic status; race; national origin; immigration status; or religious or political affiliation.
When working with a SHARPP Center advocate:
- You have the right to services that respect you and your personal values and opinions;
- You have the right to make your own decisions within the policies of The SHARPP Center;
- You have the right to know and understand all of the rules and policies of The SHARPP Center by which you must abide;
- You have the right to respectful treatment of confidential information. All information and records pertaining to you will be kept confidential in accordance with NH RSA 173-C;
- You have the right to access your individual records;
- You have the right to give input and feedback on any or all aspects of The SHARPP Center’s programs and services. You have the right to receive a response to your input and feedback.
What happens when I contact The SHARPP Center?
Helpline
If you call our 24/7 helpline during business hours it will be answered by a trained SHARPP Center staff member who will be able to assist you immediately, or transfer you to a staff member who is available. If you call the helpline outside of our business hours it will be answered by a trained answering service. This answering service will ask if you need to speak with an advocate and will ask for a name and number for the advocate to call you back. A trained SHARPP Center advocate will return your call within 10 minutes from a blocked number. If you do not answer, they will not leave a message and we encourage you to call the helpline again.
Office Visit
SHARPP Center staff are available to meet with individuals in our office, located in Wolff House next to Health and Wellness. Appointments are not needed and you may stop in any time that we are open. When you walk in, you will be greeted by a staff member who will ask what brings you into the office. You can simply say you wish to talk to someone or want to meet with an advocate. They will bring you into our private meeting space, shown to the right, and let a staff member know that you are there. If you have a preference of the identity of staff member you work with or anything else that would make you more comfortable, such as asking the advocate to wear a mask, please share that with us when you arrive and we will do our best to accommodate those requests.
Who will I work with?
SHARPP Center services are provided by both staff members as well as trained student volunteers (Peer Advocates). Both our staff and student advocates have completed a minimum of 30 hours of training and are required to participate in yearly continuing education. Depending on the time of day and way you contact SHARPP, you may work with a staff member or trained student.
The SHARPP Center's Peer Advocates primarily work with individuals who contact us using our 24/7 helpline when the office is closed. If you call our helpline at (603) 862-7233 in the evening or over the weekend, the advocate responding to you will most likely be a student. Our student advocates have the same training and confidentiality requirements as our professional staff and are able to provide information, referrals, and accompaniment to the hospital or police station as needed.
If you contact The SHARPP Center during our business hours (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm) through any contact method, you are likely to speak with a professional staff member, though we do employ several student workers in our office. It is the SHARPP Center's practice and obligation to maintain your privacy and confidentiality by not sharing your identity or information with others, including with our Peer Advocates. If you have concerns about your experience working with either a staff member or Peer Advocate we encourage you to provide us with feedback in the way that feels comfortable for you.
Confidentiality
The SHARPP Center is one of the 12 member programs that make up the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. We are a confidential crisis center and all of our staff and advocates hold legal privilege (confidentiality) under NH RSA 173-C. Our confidentiality means that except in a few rare circumstances (described below), all information shared with us by someone who has been impacted by interpersonal violence will stay between that person and SHARPP.
Our confidentiality means that we cannot confirm that anyone is working with us to their friends, family, UNH employees or administration, or law enforcement without their expressed written permission. We recognize that every individual has unique needs and concerns and it is our goal to support everyone in making the choices that are best for them. Because of this, it is important to know that working with a SHARPP Center advocate is not considered reporting to the university or law enforcement and no action will be taken by SHARPP Center staff to that end.
The times we cannot be confidential and must share information are:
- To report the abuse or neglect of a minor as required by state law
- To report the abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult
- If it is shared that someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or someone else, The SHARPP Center may be required to notify others to ensure the safety and well-being of all.
