FARMINGTON — Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services is looking for volunteer advocates to respond to its 24-hour crisis and support line and make a difference in the lives of people affected by sexual violence. The next training will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Farmington.
The training provides insight and information into the areas of sexual harassment, stalking, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual assault. It will also address system response to sexual assault, challenges faced by survivors and the importance of self-care. Participants will learn crisis intervention and advocacy skills, and will learn about various resources available in the community.
After successful completion of the training, advocates will choose from a variety of scheduling options and can take calls from their home. Calls may include supporting someone through a difficult memory of childhood sexual abuse or accompanying a caller to a local hospital or police station if the survivor chooses to use those resources.
Volunteer advocates must be over age 18, empathetic and dependable, with access to reliable transportation. All potential volunteers must complete the training and a screening process, which includes criminal and Department of Health and Human Services background checks.
No prior experience is necessary. A stipend is available for volunteer advocates who cover evening, weekend and holiday shifts.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer advocate or to schedule a pretraining screening interview, call Justine Plourde at 207-784-5272, ext. 111, or send an email to justine.plourde@sapars.org.
FMI: www.sapars.org or 1-800-871-7741.
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