Volunteers

Call the Center at 203-874-8712 to register or for information.

Looking for a volunteer job that's fulfilling? This may be the right place for your commitment to a vital community service. The Center offers training for state certified sexual assault crisis counselors as defined in CT General Statute 52-146(k). To receive certification, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and sign a confidentiality agreement. Upon acceptance into the program, volunteers pay a nominal $15 fee to cover the cost of the training manual and then complete the thirty (30) hour curriculum which includes:Sexual assault - definitions, myths and facts.

• Sexual assault - definitions, myths and facts
• Crisis intervention techniques
• Sexual harassment
• Child sexual assault
• Domestic violence
• Diverse populations
• Incest and counseling
• Suicide
• Police investigations
• Forensic evidence collection---hospital accompaniment and medical procedures
• Counselor/Advocate procedures
• the court process and the law

Experienced staff from the Rape Crisis Center conduct classes two nights per week over a six week period. Guest speakers include Chief State's Attorney Mary Galvin, Milford Detective Robert Nash, Milford Hospital emergency room nurse, Clinical therapist Carol Hovey, and representatives from DCF, Parent Child Resource Center, Yale Child Sexual Abuse Center, and The Umbrella Domestic Violence Program.

Upon completion of the training program, volunteers are asked to give an minimum of 24 hours of time each month, including some weekends and evenings, to be "on call" and available in case a victim of sexual assault needs immediate help at a hospital or police department. Volunteers who are on call don't have to stay home, as long as they can be reached by cell phone.

Monthly meetings are held throughout the year to conduct case review, provide in-service training, and develop the camaraderie that is important for all successful volunteer programs. You do not need experience. You do need to be dedicated and willing to commit time.

Interested? Have questions?
Call the Center at 874-8712 and ask for Sheila, Volunteer Coordinator.