The UC Davis Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education has been a part of the UC Davis community since 1979, when it was first established as the UCD Rape Prevention Program. The UCD Rape Prevention Program, which was originally established through a grant obtained by the UC Davis Police Department, was later renamed Campus Violence Prevention Program (CVPP).  In addition to leading many of the campus’s education and training on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking, CVPP became the on-campus, confidential resource for UC Davis community members who had experienced sexual violence.

In 2013, CVPP expanded services to the UC Davis Sacramento campus by establishing a position funded 20 hours per week dedicated to providing confidential advocacy and support, and outreach to members of the UC Davis Health community.

In 2014, UC President Napolitano charged the Task Force on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment with establishing recommendations to improve the climate within the University of California. As a result of these recommendations, in 2015, CVPP was renamed CARE: Advocate Office for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Misconduct; for clarity, the UC Davis CARE program became the Center for Advocacy, Resources and Education. Additionally, as a result of these recommendations, the newly named UC Davis CARE program was moved from the governance of the UC Davis Police Department to the Office of the Provost, reporting directly to the Provost.

Today, CARE staff provide confidential victim advocacy, support, and healing services to members of the UC Davis and UC Davis Health communities, and lead the campus prevention efforts with the vision of eliminating sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence, including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking.