Resources for Parents and Families

Stay up to date on what’s happening on campus and for college students in general and ask your student about it. You could say, “I read an article about (topic). How have you seen that come up?” 

Turn to media that is relevant or resonates with your student. As you see or hear things come up in movies, on TV, over social media etc., ask for your student’s thoughts and/or share your own.   

Open-ended questions are questions that cannot be answered with a “yes” or “no” response. Open-ended questions allow your student the space to take the conversation where they feel most comfortable while encouraging in-depth conversations between the two of you.  

A good trick is starting a question with what or how, here are some examples: 

When talking about relationships: 

• “How did you meet them?” 
• “What kinds of things do you like to do together?” 

You may want to start with questions that feel less sensitive, like asking them how classes are going, then progress to questions that require a bit more openness and disclosure from your student. 

If you’re finding it difficult to have a conversation, you can also offer your child articles, books recommendations, or referrals to Northeastern resources so they can learn more. OPEN offers one-one services as well as programs and presentations, online courses, resources guides and much more.  

Take time to revisit these topics with your student. Revisiting the conversation lets your student know they can come to you for support in navigating these topics during the time in college and beyond. 

If your student discloses that they were sexually assaulted or harassed, we encourage you to see OPEN’s RESPOND model for guidance in offering your student a supportive and trauma-informed response. 

You may find it helpful to visit our Supporting Someone Else or For Survivors: Get Help Now pages for information about services and resources available to your student. 

You can refer your student to OPEN’s Sexual Violence Resource Center (SVRC) for support. OPEN’s SVRC provides confidential support services to Northeastern students who have experienced any form of sexual violence, dating violence, or stalking. 

Often people who are in unhealthy or abusive relationships are very good at hiding it.  As parents or family members, you may be some of the people who are most equipped to tell when something in the relationship or about your student seems off.  Here are some warning signs to look out for: 

• Did they get into a serious relationship quickly?  Relationships that are unhealthy or abusive often move at a very fast pace. 
• Does the relationship seem volatile? In abusive relationships, there can be a lot of high highs or low lows. 
• Have you noticed your student becoming isolated?  They may be calling less, visiting less, seeing less of their family and friends or even missing work or class. 
• Have you noticed a change in behavior in your student?  For example, they stop attending things they used to, they get upset more easily than before, their grades are dropping. 
• Are their friends disapproving or concerned? 
• Is your student overly concerned about responding quickly to their partner’s texts?  It might seem like your student is “walking on eggshells.” Perhaps their partner is expecting immediate responses to texts or wants to know where they are at all times. 
• Is their partner possessive and jealous? Their partner might be saying things like, “I don’t want you hanging out with that group of people.” “I love you and I’m just protecting you.”  You might hear your student using that language in their partner’s defense, “They just really love me.” 
• Does their partner seem controlling?  Perhaps they are telling your student what to wear, who they can see and spend time with, or where they can go. 
• Have you noticed a change in your student’s confidence?  Perhaps their partner makes rude comments about them (even in your presence), teases them, or minimizes their achievements. Your student might be questioning their own decisions or appear less self-confident than you’ve seen them in the past. 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be seeing warning signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Trust yourself, talk to your student, and encourage them to get help. 

Visit our Supporting Someone Else page for information on how to respond to your student as well as our For Survivors: Get Help Now for information on resources and next steps about abusive relationships. 

If your student shares that they were accused of sexual violence, we encourage you see OPEN’s RESTORE model for guidance on how to talk your student in this circumstance. 

You can refer your student to OPEN’s Confidential Resource Advising (CRA) Services for support. OPEN’s CRA Services provide confidential, non-judgmental assistance and resource navigation for Northeastern students accused of sexual violence. 

Visit OPEN’s Supporting Someone Else or For Accused Students pages for information about services and resources available to your student. 

If you are concerned your student may be engaging in unhealthy or harmful sexual behaviors, we encourage you to look at information on OPEN’s Sexual Harm Accountability Psychoeducation (SHAPE) Program. OPEN’s SHAPE Program is a research-informed education program designed for college students who have engaged in and/or been accused of unhealthy or harmful sexual behavior.  

If you are concerned that your student may be engaging in unhealthy or harmful behaviors towards their partner, there are helplines available for you to connect with to discuss what is happening and how to address the behaviors you are noticing.  

A Call for Change: is confidential, anonymous helpline for people anywhere in the world who want to stop using abuse and control in their intimate relationships. People who are unsure about their behavior or those supporting them can also call the Helpline.

Phone: 877.898.3411 | Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm ET daily 

Respect Phoneline: is a confidential UK-based helpline, email and chat service for domestic abuse perpetrators and those supporting them. 

Phone: 0808 802 4040 | Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00am-5:00pm BST

Yes, you can reach out to the OPEN team at open@northeastern.edu or 617.373.4459.  

Due to our confidentiality, we cannot confirm or deny that a student is working with OPEN. If you are interested in connecting your student with our services, you can share with them our email, open@northeastern.edu or relevant webpages. 

We cannot make any student meet with us. We encourage you to provide them with the resources and give them space to decide whether they want to connect. 

For academic or housing support, your student can connect with We Care. We Care can provide a variety of support to students navigating both personal and academic challenges.

Please see the We Care website for more information. 

Yes, all OPEN services are available to enrolled Northeastern students regardless of location. All our services are accessible virtually via Microsoft Teams and our staff coordinates with students to accommodate time zones. 

No, OPEN is not a crisis support service. Please see our resources page for survivors and our resource page for accused students to see available after-hours support. 

Yes, OPEN is accessible to enrolled Northeastern students all year round. The office is open Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00pm ET.