Volunteer Opportunity

The following descriptions give a basic idea of our most significant needs for volunteer support:

On-site Crisis Line Coverage: Focuses on two areas of need - crisis line coverage and shelter support. This requires three levels of training with the last level focusing heavily on crisis line and shelter protocol.

Mobile Crisis Line Coverage: Provides the opportunity to focus on personal activities in your usual environment as long as the ability to thoroughly cover calls is not hindered. It requires the same training as on-site crisis line coverage.

Shelter Support: This is an on-site shelter support position and does not include crisis line coverage. This also requires the same training as on-site crisis line coverage.

Training: Training consists of three phases unless the volunteer is only interested in aiding with special events and general clerical work. The training typically requires an investment during a 2 week period of 3 evenings with the first level training taking approximately one hour, the second level training takes from 1 to 2 hours and the third level training takes about 3 hours depending on the number of volunteers trained at that time.

Court advocacy and accompaniment services involve appearing in court with victims as a source of support and empowerment. These services do not allow for the volunteer to speak for the victim or to tell the victim what to do but is mainly focused on encouragement and support of the strength and ability of the victim to find the necessary protection and aid to get on with life. There are some opportunities for protective order assistance. These fall, at times, under general clerical support but include a focus on the protective order process. More details should be sought from Pam Thompson.

What is a Crisis Call like?

Typically, domestic violence calls are not made during a violent crisis. The term “crisis” covers the truth that a victim of domestic violence is always in a crisis whether there are fists or words presently attacking or not. Calls do not typically happen during the process of a violent incident. They usually happen after the fact. So, a volunteer can understand that it is highly unlikely a call will come through that even remotely resembles the realities experienced for 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Crisis calls are generally, however serious their content, calm exchanges of support, information and hope.

What is the Shelter like?

The shelter, no matter what the outward appearance may be, is a homey reality inside. The typically understood image of the interior of a “shelter” does not apply here.

For more information on the possibilities with Family Abuse Services, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Pam Thompson at pthompson@familyabuseservices.org.

Click here to sign up for more information now!