Volunteer Shelter Advocate

Become a Volunteer

 Description:

• Answers the crisis lines and provides crisis intervention counseling and information referrals to callers
• Completes crisis cards, information logs, child abuse incident reports, and any other paperwork generated by crisis calls
• Screens and admits battered women and their children
• Screens for emergency injunctions
• Provides coverage for the shelter and its residents, as scheduled; this includes notification and implementation of safety procedures in the event of threats to survivors and/or the shelter facility
• Assists survivors with medications and other special needs
• Monitors alarm system and security gate
• Work with law enforcement and injunctions
• Checks grounds to ensure safety
• Problem solves with survivors with appropriate feedback, both on the telephone and in-person
• Uses active listening skills with appropriate self-disclosure
• Is respectful and non-judgmental in all dealings with survivors and vendors
• Establishes a rapport with survivors
• Makes appropriate referrals
• Assists survivors with setting goals and identifying obstacles/challenges
• Models appropriate problem-solving with survivors
• Is able to effectively structure crisis counseling sessions

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic computer skills
• Ability to work with culturally diverse groups of both genders
• Ability to interact in a professional manner with members of other agencies
• Ability to prioritize tasks and utilize resources effectively
• Ability to show caring and empathy toward survivors of domestic violence
• Ability to maintain client records according to Agency standards
• Ability to recognize signs of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and respond appropriately

Requirements

• Volunteer application online (signed confidentiality form and volunteer agreement)
• Recognize, Respond and Refer (RRR) training register here
• Background check
• CORE-Competency training held quarterly
• Interview with shelter Manager
• Shelter Orientation, as well as 10 hours of shadowing staff advocates before hotline calls are answered or intakes are performed. Staff Advocates and Shelter Services Manager will work together to determine when Volunteer Advocates are ready for certain responsibilities

Become a Volunteer