Womanspace Seeks Volunteers for Victim Response Teams

Womanspace is looking for volunteers to join its Domestic Violence Victim Response Team (DVVRT) and Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) Advocate Team.

Team members respond to local police stations or hospitals and meet with victims—providing them with support, information, and referrals.

In the past ten years the teams have served over 5,700 residents of Mercer County. Last year, team members provided services to 732 domestic violence victims and 73 sexual assault victims.

DVVRT and SASS volunteers support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault during the most critical time. Team members’ qualifications include the ability to communicate well with others, being a good listener, and maintaining confidentiality.

Interested persons must be 18 years of age or older, as well as a resident of or employee in the Mercer County area with a valid driver’s license, available transportation and the ability to attend trainings and meetings. Volunteers will not have either a criminal history or prior history as a defendant in a domestic violence or sexual assault-related matter.

Volunteers will receive 80+ hours of extensive, specialized training on topics including the law, sensitivity to the needs of victims and their children, and how to provide appropriate responses at a very critical time. Trained volunteers must be “on call” (available to respond to call-outs at police departments or hospitals) two to four shifts per month.

The next training will begin March 5, 2013.

Download your application to volunteer at www.womanspace.org. Applications must be mailed to Womanspace by Feb. 15. Interested persons must submit to a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

Bilingual individuals (especially those fluent in Spanish, Polish, and American Sign Language) are encouraged to apply. Volunteers are also required to be fluent in English.

Team training location will be announced closer to the start date. For more information about volunteering on the teams, please contact Heidi Mueller at dvvrt@womanspace.org and Alison Daks at sass@womanspace.org, or call (609) 394-0136.

Womanspace is the leading non-profit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Mercer County, New Jersey. Womanspace also operates the NJ toll-free Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 572-SAFE (7233).