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Volunteer Job Description
Necessary Qualifications:
A Volunteer Victim Advocate must reside in or near Butler
County. S/he must have a genuine interest in assisting adult and
child victims of sexual assault and their family members. In
order to be accepted into the program, prospective volunteers must
complete an application, criminal background check, and screening
interview. Advocates must also sign a volunteer contract and
agree to abide by all agency policies (for example, policies
concerning confidentiality, record-keeping, drug-free workplace,
and volunteer safety). All Advocates must complete the
entire Rape Crisis training class and additional role-play
practice sessions.
Advocates normally fulfill a minimum commitment of 3 volunteer
shifts per month. During volunteer shifts, Advocates must be
immediately accessible by phone (or they may borrow agency beepers
for use during their shifts). Volunteer shifts are scheduled as
follows:
Day shifts: 6 am to 6 pm
Night shifts: 6 pm to 6 am the following
day
The primary role of the Victim Advocate is to provide crisis
intervention counseling, information, and referrals for victims of
sexual assault and their family members. Volunteers work with a
partner; at least one partner must have a car available for use
during the shift. Professional staff members are always available
to volunteers for consultation and supervision. Volunteers assist
both adult and teen victims of incest, rape, attempted rape,
sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual victimization.
Approximately ˝ of all client contacts will be
handled over the telephone. Face-to-face crisis intervention
counseling is also provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in
Butler County hospitals and police departments. In special
circumstances, during normal business hours, volunteers may also
provide face-to-face crisis intervention counseling for victims of
sexual assault at area courts, school guidance offices, Board of
Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities staff
offices. Following an initial contact with a client, volunteers
normally provide limited “follow-up” contacts with victims in
order to clarify information, check that referrals have worked
out, and make sure that the clients’ concerns have been
appropriately addressed.
The Rape Crisis Program's volunteer program does not discriminate
on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic
status, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. Age
restrictions do apply for volunteers, however: volunteers must be
at least 18 years of age. Retirees and other community volunteers are welcomed
and highly valued. Graduate and undergraduate students
are welcome to apply. All volunteers are utilized at the discretion
of the Program Director and Assistant Director, and volunteer
hiring and firing decisions will be made in the best interest of
our clients, our volunteers themselves, and the Rape Crisis
Program as a whole. All volunteers are utilized "at will" by the
program.
For more information or to receive a volunteer application packet,
please telephone Cassandra von Gerds, Rape Crisis Program Assistant
Director, at (513) 523-4149 or
email her.
24-hour Helpline:
(513)523-4146,
424-5498, or 894-7002
email us
Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003 Community Counseling
& Crisis Center
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