WFC is currently recruiting volunteer Sexual Assault Crisis Counselors. Our team of volunteer counselors has a vital role in our agency and in the fight against sexual violence. Caring and concerned women and men of diverse backgrounds are needed to support survivors of this crime.
Volunteers may participate in a variety of activities with Sexual Assault Crisis Services. Volunteers staff our sexual assault crisis hotline nights, weekends and holidays. Our answering service receives calls and routes them to volunteers, allowing volunteers to take hotline calls and police and hospital accompaniment calls from home. Hotline shifts are from 6 PM daily, with additional 6 AM to 6 PM shifts on weekends and holidays. Scheduling is flexible, depending on your availability. All volunteers are required to take at least 2 hotline shifts per month. Additionally, volunteers may choose to participate in our Primary Prevention Speaker's Bureau or co-facilitate a support group. We ask that volunteers make a one year commitment to SACS.
Volunteers for SACS must be at least 18 years old and have a High School Diploma or GED. Reliable transportation is required. Counseling skills and/or previous experience in human services is a plus but not required. Bilingual is a plus.
Applicants for volunteer positions must complete an application and screening process, including references, DCF and criminal history checks.
All volunteer counselors participate in a thirty-nine hour training program prior to working with our agency. Our next training is scheduled to begin on September 10, 2012 and run on Monday and Wednesday evenings through October 17, 2012 at our Meriden location. Upon completion of our course, you will be state certified as a Sexual Assault Crisis Counselor. During the training, we work closely with each volunteer to learn the philosophies and practices to effectively work with survivors of sexual violence, and create change within our communities. Six hours of re-certification training, provided by the Women and Families Center, and meeting minimum service requirements will maintain your certification status yearly.
For more infomation please contact, Carissa Conway 203-235-9297 ext. 126 or via email at cconway@womenfamilies.org
