Volunteer as a sexual assault victim advocate, and make a difference in people’s lives when they need it the most.
Sexual violence impacts every age group, gender, and community, but for survivors of sexual assault, harassment, or other abuse, finding support can be challenging and, at times, unsafe. That’s where organizations like the YWCA can help. Through its Sexual Violence and Support Services program and the Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline (CRCH), the nonprofit provides counseling services, a vast network of essential resources, and in-person advocates who assist survivors as they navigate criminal justice, medical, and educational systems.
This year, the YWCA is expanding its network of volunteer advocates, and you’re invited to apply. No prior experience or education is required. All you need is compassion, reliability, tolerance, an open mind, and the ability to commit eight to ten hours a month to the cause.
“We meet the survivors where they are and allow them to guide the conversation in a way that will make them feel comfortable and empowered,” says the YWCA’s manager of crisis lines and dispatch services Nitrisha Lee. “We are all trained in crisis intervention and are prepared to support survivors in acute crises with whatever needs they may have at that time.”
As a YWCA volunteer, you’ll be provided with a free, 40-hour training program through the YWCA. ). Upon completion, our volunteers answer our 24/7 CRCH offering survivors of sexual assault a caring voice, emotional support, referrals, and information about their options. Additionally, volunteer advocates assist survivors at the hospital during a sexual assault exam.
Operated on a 24/7 basis, the CRCH is key to the YWCA’s Sexual Assault and Support Services. Launched around a Logan Square kitchen table in 1998, the CRCH has helped tens of thousands of survivors of sexual assault access information about sexual violence and find support through some of the most challenging times in their lives.
Today, CRCH serves the Chicago metropolitan area, including DuPage and Cook counties, and receives between 300 and 500 calls each month. The hotline is free and open to all, whether callers are in the midst of a crisis, grappling with events that happened some time ago, or seeking information on how to support a friend or family member struggling with sexual violence or harassment. All calls are anonymous and confidential, though the organization tries to collect zip codes to support its efforts to better reach underserved communities.
Along with the phone hotline, CRCH also offers text and live chat support for people ages 13 and up from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Bilingual advocates are available over all three lines of communication.
Volunteering as a sexual assault survivor advocate can be a great way to learn new skills, meet new friends, and further your career while providing crucial support to survivors and making a difference in your community. In addition to direct client support, YWCA volunteers can also assist with monthly tabling events and other community outreach efforts, bringing awareness to YWCA’s Sexual Violence and Support Services, educating the public, and shifting social norms that promote cycles of abuse.
For more information or to apply today, visit http://ywcachicago.org/svss.
If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of support, call the Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline at 888-293-2080 today.
Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
