We need people to help people!!
Could you answer the call for help??
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOURSELF!!
BE A VOLUNTEER AND ANSWER THE CALL FOR HELP.
THE CRISIS CALL CENTER NEEDS YOU!
What is the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Call Center?
The Center is a 24-hour, seven day a week telephone crisis intervention and sexual assault support service. The Center has six full time staff members who supervise the various programs and services offered. Additional staff members and approximately 70 highly trained volunteers answer the phones and respond in person to victims of sexual assault. The crisis line responds to calls dealing with issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, child/elder abuse and neglect, suicide and depression, or anything other issue that might be considered a crisis. They are available for persons who just need to talk and have nowhere else to turn. The Sexual Assault Support Services program offers emergency face-to-face crisis intervention for rape victims and their families/friends.
What kind of training do I need?
Crisis Line and Sexual Assault Support Services volunteers receive 60 hours of intensive training over a five-week period. All training emphasizes good listening and communication skills. Guest speakers discuss a broad range of topics that volunteers will encounter. Role-playing is an important part of training and helps prospective volunteers practice newly acquired skills. Once training is completed, volunteers will have the skills necessary to answer the crisis line or respond to a victim of sexual assault.
How much time will volunteering take?
Once you have completed the training course, Crisis Line volunteers will be asked to be on the line for one four-hour shift per week. Volunteers providing services to victims of sexual assault are scheduled for a minimum of three 12-hour on-call shifts per month. Sexual Assault Support Services volunteers are dispatched to the hospital as needed. Due to the investment made in training new people, volunteers are asked to commit to at least one year of active service with the Center. Many volunteers choose to stay on with us well beyond their first year. Volunteers are also required to attend at least three in-service training’s per year.
Are there other things volunteers can do for the Crisis Call Center?
Sometimes volunteers who finish training find themselves, for various reasons, unable to fulfill the commitments of the Crisis Line or Sexual Assault Support Services program. If they would like to remain active with our agency, there are many ways to assist the office staff with mailings, advertising, soliciting donations, or anything to promote the growth of the Center.
Volunteers who have been active for awhile often find they want to expand their contribution. A volunteer can be active on both the Crisis Line and Sexual Assault Support Services programs. Volunteers are often trainers, members of the Board of Directors, or provide back-up support for other volunteers.
What’s in it for me?
Many volunteers join the Crisis Call Center to gain skills they will need as they enter social service professions. However, volunteers often find that the communication skills that they learn serve them well in their personal and family relationships. Training is intensive and personal growth occurs for everyone involved; friendships develop, self discovery and emotional processing are all part of becoming a volunteer at the Center. This growth continues through the processing of personal issues that arise as a result of calls volunteers receive. Staff and volunteers support each other and help make being a part of the Center a learning experience that will never be forgotten.
How can I find out more?
If you would like to know more about becoming a volunteer or would like information on our next training program, please call 784-8085. We would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you. To print a volunteer application, please click here.