Volunteer

Hotline Volunteers

 

SARA's 24/7 hotline offers free and confidential support to survivors of sexual violence and their friends and families, allied professionals, and the general public. Hotline volunteers help provide callers with appropriate referrals and resources to empower callers to make their own choices and conduct their own healing process. 

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Requirements:

• 18+ years old

• Application

• Interview

• Background & Reference-Check

• 40-hour Crisis Services Training

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Minimum volunteer commitment: 1-2 shifts/month. Shifts range from 4-12 hour blocks on weeknights, weekends, and holidays. Hotline volunteers must commit to the Hotline Volunteer role for at least 1 year.

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Crisis Services Training:

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Volunteers will be trained in many elements of crisis line work through the duration of training. Training consists of a mixture of lecture, small group activities, and call simulation.

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Topics include:

• Basic Advocacy and Counseling Skills

• Information on Sexual Assault

• Self-Care

• Trauma-Informed Care

• Cultural Humility

• Suicide and Self-Inflicted Harm

• Domestic Violence

• Legal Information and Processes

• Medical Information and Processes

• Challenging Call Scenarios and Simulation

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Spring Crisis Services Training 2024

Tuesday, April 23, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday, April 25, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, April 27, 10am-4pm

Tuesday, April 30, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday, May 2, 5:30-8:30pm

Tuesday, May 7, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday, May 9, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, May 11, 10am-4pm

 

Summer Crisis Services Training 2024

Monday, July 22, 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, July 24, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, July 27, 10am-4pm

Monday, July 29, 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, July 31, 5:30-8:30pm

Monday, August 5, 5:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, August 7, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, August 10, 10am-4pm

 

Winter Crisis Services Training 2025

Tuesday, January 7, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday, January 9, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, January 11, 10am-4pm

Tuesday, January 14, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday, January 16, 5:30-8:30pm

Tuesday, January 21, 5:30-8:30pm

Thursday,  January 23, 5:30-8:30pm

Saturday, January 25, 10am-4pm

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Hotline Volunteer FAQ:

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If I’ve completed a hotline training elsewhere, do I still have to go through SARA’s training?

Yup!  Sorry, different hotlines have different protocol, and we want to make sure we’re on the same page.  We’re sure there’s stuff that’ll be familiar, but a lot of things will be new, too!  That said, we’d love to hear your perspective on how things were different with your former experiences, and maybe use your expertise to improve our own protocol.

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Can I take calls from home?

Yes! Our hotline system allows calls to be forwarded to your personal phone lines, so there is no requirement for volunteers to be at the SARA office while taking a hotline shift.

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Do I have a support system?

Definitely. SARA staff serves on call 24/7 and is always available to debrief with you after hotline calls. Additionally, we work to maintain a community of all our volunteers and advocates. Call content can be heavy, and debriefing with others helps our volunteers maintain enthusiasm for the work. We host monthly meetings for our volunteers and advocates to connect with one another, process their work, and boost skills.

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Will I receive a training manual?

Yes! We create a comprehensive manual that will include all your training materials and resources to access while taking hotline calls. This manual will be yours to keep.

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Any other questions? Contact our Crisis Services Coordinator at katie@saracville.org.

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Community Outreach Volunteers

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Community Outreach Volunteers organize and participate in community awareness events and projects. As a Community Outreach Volunteer, you will team up with other people in our community who care about making positive change, and interact with community members at events, while also providing the necessary support for these events and projects to take place. Participation in a 2-hour virtual volunteer orientation is required. Outreach Volunteers organize, execute, and participate in community awareness events; reach out to community organizations, both local and rural; table specific events; and promote the agency's vision and mission. 

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Upcoming Outreach Trainings:

Wednesday, March 13 4-6pm

Thursday, March 28 5:30-7:30pm

Monday,  April 15 5:30-7:30pm
Sunday, April 28 10-12pm

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You only need to attend one session to become an outreach volunteer. If there is expressed interest in alternative or additional training dates, changes can be made. If you are interested in becoming an outreach volunteer, please email katie@saracville.org.

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Administrative Volunteers

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Administrative Volunteers assist with answering office phones, greeting clients, and completing office responsibilities and projects as needed. Availability for this type of volunteer is extremely limited and only on an as-needed basis. 

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Group Volunteers

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Group Volunteers usually volunteer on a one-time or yearly basis and assist with a larger project in and around our office/community. Past group volunteer projects include painting, organizing, and flyering. We can host office groups, friend groups, clubs, etc. Groups are not required to complete an application. Upon arrival, groups will be given a brief presentation on SARA and will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.  

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If your group is interested in volunteering, please email katie@saracville.org.

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Application

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All prospective volunteers must complete an application indicating interest, experience, and relationship with sexual assault and crisis. We are looking for caring, reliable, empathetic, and non-judgmental individuals who are willing to commit to emotionally challenging work. 

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Volunteer candidates must attend an interview in order to determine aptitude for the training program and volunteer commitment. Interviews are generally 15-30 minutes long and focus on interpersonal skills and experience with crisis and sexual assault.

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We require 3 references to be contacted per volunteer. These references may be friends, coworkers, supervisors, professors, fellow volunteers, etc. They may not be family members or therapists. The best people to list as references are people who have known the candidate for a long time, can speak to their ability to handle crisis situations, emotional stability, and reliability. Also essential is that the references are easily contacted by phone or email.

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