Harassment Resolution Services prevention early intervention resolution

Harassment Resolution Services helps to end sexual harassment
and abuse in schools, universities, graduate programs, and for
teens victimized at work, by educating the public about sexual
harassment and bullying, providing free advocacy assistance for
victims, and establishing a one-stop resource for services that
facilitates harassment resolution.

TO CONTACT US

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5601 Bridge Street, Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76112
Tel: 817-492-7171

SCHOOL SEXUAL HARASSMENT OVERVIEW

Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful sex discrimination that
occurs when a student is treated differently based on their sex.
Sexual harassment deprives students of the benefits of their
education and often has serious physical and emotional effects
on the victim. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
constitute sexual harassment when

submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or
implicitly affects an individual's education ("Quid Pro Quo"
Sexual Harassment) or
the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with the student's educational benefit, and the
conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
educational environment. ("Hostile Environment" Sexual
Harassment).

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST TEENS ON THE JOB

Laws involving sexual harassment in the workplace are similar to
the laws for sexual harassment victims in schools. Like school
sexual harassment, sexual harassment that occurs in the
workplace is a form of sex discrimination that violates the law.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual
harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct
explicitly or implicitly affects the teenager's job (Quid Pro Quo Sexual
Harassment), the conduct unreasonably interferes with the teen's
employment, or the conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or
offensive environment (Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment).

WE ALSO HELP VICTIMS OF ABUSE OR BULLYING

If you or someone you know has been physically assaulted or
bullied at school, tell the principal and the police immediately.
Then contact Harassment Resolution Services. The law involving
sexual harassment and bullying in schools can be complicated and
confusing. Harassment Resolution Services is here to help victims
understand their rights and their options for ending the sexual
harassment and bullying in schools.

HOW WE CAN HELP - FREE ASSISTANCE

Personalized assistance
Harassment Resolution Services can help you understand your
rights and options. We can help you determine the best course
and guide you through the resolution process. We can help you
draft a letter or complaint to the appropriate person at your school,
university, or graduate program, and for teens, we can help you draft
a complaint to your supervisor at work.

Actual Notice for schools, universities, and graduate programs
Depending on the preference of the sexual harassment or bullying
victim, we can write a letter to the school to notify them of the sexual
harassment or bullying problem. Technically, this would also be a
benefit to the school, since it gives them the opportunity to take
appropriate action and address the problem before a lawsuit is
filed.

For sexual harassment specifically, there is an "actual notice"
requirement for schools to be held liable for the sexual
harassment. This requirement means the appropriate person at
the school must have actual knowledge of the sexual harassment
and subsequently fail to take proper action. As a result of the
"actual notice" requirement, some schools try to get around the law
by insulating the particular person who is required to receive the
actual notice. It is not uncommon for school administrators to say
they "didn't know" about the harassment, even though the victim had
complained repeatedly. It is only when the school official receives a
letter from an attorney that they take the matter seriously.
Unfortunately, by the time a student has found an attorney and hired
them for representation, the student has suffered a loss in terms of
educational benefits, as well as emotional and physical damage.
This is where Harassment Resolution Services can make a
difference.

By sending a letter to the appropriate person at the school,
Harassment Resolution Services is able to provide the school with
the actual notice needed and required for the sexual harassment to
be addressed.

Courtesy Notice for schools, universities, and graduate programs
In the event a victim is fearful of retaliation, or she wants to take
other steps on her own first, we can send a courtesy letter to the
school and let them know a problem exists. The victim's name
does not have to be given in order for us to provide the Courtesy
Notice. A Courtesy Notice may be all that is needed for the school
to take the matter seriously and address the problem informally.

Notice to employers of teenagers
In the event a teenager is sexually harassed at work, Harassment
Resolution Services can send a letter to the employer on behalf of
the teenager.

Unlike with school sexual harassment, to be liable for sexual
harassment of a teenager in the workplace, an employer needs to
have either actual notice or "constructive notice" of the sexual
harassment. This means the employer can be found liable if they
knew or "should have known" about the harassment and failed to
take appropriate corrective action. By providing a letter directly to the
employer, Harassment Resolution Services can help provide the
notice to the employer that is needed in order for the harassment to
be addressed. Technically, this is a benefit to the employer as well,
since they will have the opportunity to take appropriate action and
may be able to prevent litigation.

Notification to the harasser
In some cases where it would be helpful, Harassment Resolution
Services can mail a letter directly to the person harassing the
student. We can contact the harasser on behalf of the victim to see
if the harasser would be interested in scheduling a mediation.

Referrals
In addition to assisting you with understanding your options and
legal rights, we can also provide referrals to At torneys and
Me diators who have experience working on sexual harassment and
bullying cases. We can provide referrals to other agencies such as
the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as help victims
understand the procedures.

For the Public
We provide education to the public about sexual harassment and
bullying, the problems with the resolution systems that are not
working and can be improved, and information on how they can get
involved to prevent and help end sexual harassment and bullying.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Stand Up
If you know of someone who is being harassed or bullied, just
being there for them may be the best way to help. Listen to them,
support them, and stay by their side at school if you feel safe doing
so. Many harassers will wait until their victims are alone, so if you
and your friends stand by the person being harassed, it could make
a difference.

Speak Up
If you witness someone being sexually harassed or bullied, report
it. Create documentation of what happened, and give a copy to
the victim and to the person to whom you report it. If you can
safely do so without putting yourself in any danger, speak up
and tell the harasser to stop it. Make it clear you find that conduct
unacceptable. Don't laugh or "go along" with the people involved.
Tell the victim what you saw, and offer to be a witness.

Help Spread the Word
Let your classmates know about bullying and sexual harassment
laws, different avenues for filing a complaint, and the resources that
are available.

For more information about the services we provide, please
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			HARASSMENT RESOLUTION SERVICES



				HARASSMENT RESOLUTION SERVICES 5601 Bridge Street, Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76112 EMAIL US NOW (c) Copyright 2005