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Bear witness, be accountable, apologize.Respond well to victim disclosures (& create a trauma-informed reporting policy).Add checks and balances to power structure and diffuse highly dependent relationships.Educate the institutional community (especially leadership).Comply with civil rights laws and go beyond mere compliance beware risk management.11 Steps to Promote Institutional Courage (Based on Freyd, 2018, updated March 2022) For more on institutional courage including specific steps to take, see Freyd, 2018 and Freyd & Smidt, 2019.
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History: Institutional Courage was the term Freyd, 2014 initially introduced as the antidote to institutional betrayal. From the Center for Institutional Courage. It is a force that transforms institutions into more accountable, equitable, effective places for everyone. It is a compass oriented to the common good of individuals, the institution, and the world. It is a pledge to protect and care for those who depend on the institution.
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Institutional Courage is an institution’s commitment to seek the truth and engage in moral action, despite unpleasantness, risk, and short-term cost. Institutional Courage Questionnaire The Institutional Courage Questionnaire (ICQ) ICQ-Individual
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