Volunteering
Volunteer Advocates provide support, advocacy, and crisis intervention for people affected by sexual violence through the 24-hour crisis hotline. Learn more about our Volunteer Advocate program and download an application.
If you have any further questions about volunteering, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Volunteer Advocate Job Description
If your words could heal, would you speak up?
If your presence could provide comfort, would you show up?
If you answered yes, perhaps you should consider becoming a Volunteer Advocate. Crisis Services Volunteer Advocates provide support, advocacy, and referrals for survivors of sexual assault, their families, and loved ones. Volunteers respond to calls on a 24-hour crisis hotline by providing emotional support, referrals, and information to survivors of sexual assault, their families and loved ones. All calls are dispatched to your home or cell phone. Your personal contact information is completely confidential.
Challenge & Opportunity
Volunteering as an Advocate with RCCCNM is not for everyone. As a Crisis Advocate, you need to focus your attention on others and their crisis and must have a firm grasp on your own emotions.
Despite the challenges, it is a truly rewarding opportunity. Your effort is rewarded by knowing that you have helped someone through a difficult time and that you made a positive impact in someone’s life.
We could not offer immediate crisis intervention, support, and advocacy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without our dedicated Volunteer Advocates.
We hope that you will consider joining our team!
Qualifications
All volunteers must :
- Be stable enough to support someone who is in crisis.
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of training.
- Complete an application (scroll to the bottom of this page to download).
- Successfully complete the 40-hour training (trainings are held at least two times per year).
- Have an open mind to issues pertaining to sexual assault, relationship violence, substance abuse, choice, race, gender, age, ability, and other cultural factors.
- Have the desire and ability to work with individuals and groups of varying backgrounds.
- Have access to a phone.
- Make a minimum twelve-month commitment to the program.
What will you learn in the 40 hours of training?
- Crisis intervention skills.
- Listening skills.
- Anti-oppression training.
- Knowledge about sexual violence and its causes and effects.
- Cultural awareness: working within a diverse community.
- Understanding of community resources.
- Skills for advocating for Survivors within the criminal justice system.
- Time commitment: one evening shift during the week and one-weekend shift.
All Volunteer Advocates have an after-hour crisis supervisor available on-call for assistance and support.
More Information & Application
The Volunteer Advocate Application Form may be downloaded below. For best results, fill in the form on-screen and then print and sign it. You may also save the form to your computer to complete off-line, or print and complete the form manually. Please print legibly. Please email your application to kmcalister@rapecrisiscnm.org or drop it off at our administrative office.
For more information, contact our offices and ask for the Volunteer Advocate Coordinator or send an email to: kmcalister@rapecrisiscnm.org
Advocating For Your Rights.Educating For Change.
24-Hour Hotline 505-266-7711
Puede llamar 24 horas. Se habla Español
