help others heal

The mission of the Sexual Assault Program is to lessen the trauma of sexual assault for victims and their families. Volunteer advocates offer non-judgmental support, information and referrals for victim/survivors who have experienced sexual assault recently or in the past.  Volunteers provide advocacy for all ages during medical exams, law enforcement interviews, and throughout the criminal justice process. They support the victim/survivor’s emotional healing process by maintaining regular contact, relaying information, and listening with compassion.  Excellent training is provided.

Advocates must be 20 years or older to provide direct services to victim/survivors. Advocates between 18-20 years of age are encouraged to do outreach/prevention work.

Volunteers are needed in the following areas

Child & Adult Advocacy

Advocacy services include

• Staffing the 24-hour hotline
• Providing emotional support to adult victim/survivors, child victims and their families
• Medical advocacy, providing emotional support for victims
  and their families during hospital/medical exams and collection of evidence
• Legal advocacy, providing information and emotional support and attending interviews with victim/survivors and
  their families with law enforcement, prosecuting and defense attorneys, and during criminal justice hearings and trials
• Ongoing support for all sexual assault victim/survivors
  and their families, regardless of prosecution status, which includes weekly contact, community resource referrals, and current information
• Indirect advocacy may be provided by volunteers in the form of general office support and participation in special projects

Support Groups

Volunteer advocates also have the opportunity to co-facilitate sexual assault support groups for teens, adults, non-offending parents, women who are incarcerated, women who identify as Latina and women who identify as Native American.

Community Education
& Outreach

Volunteers provide education/outreach and training in the school system, from preschool through college, churches, civic groups, and in a variety of community venues.  Volunteers may staff tables at health fairs, the Clark County Fair and local events.

apply

Download a volunteer application.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Sexual Assault Program, contact Al Flory, Director of Volunteer Development, at
360 906 9112 or aflory@ywcaclarkcounty.org.