Crisis Line Volunteers work from their home phones providing emotional support, information, advocacy, and referrals to callers on the 24-Hour Crisis Line who have experienced sexualized violence.

Responsibilities

• Crisis Line Volunteers take calls from their homes. Our answering service initially receives the call and asks the caller if they wish to leave a name and number. If callers are comfortable with that the answering service will phone the crisis line volunteer at home and pass along the information. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, the answering service will put them on hold, phone the crisis line volunteer and “patch” the two parties. When phoning a caller back, crisis line volunteers will use call blocking (*67) to maintain confidentiality.
• Crisis Line Volunteers are responsible for responding to all incoming crisis calls during their shift time.
• Crisis Line Volunteers will consult with back up Staff and/or other Volunteers about any difficult situations that you are unsure how to deal with or when you need immediate support.
• Crisis Line Volunteers are responsible for submitting within 3 days to the Volunteer Coordinator a crisis line statistic form and a brief reflective synopsis of crisis calls received during a shift.
• Crisis Line Volunteers will destroy any notes taken during a call after reports have been completed and submitted to the office.
• If you are unable to cover a shift you have signed up for, we ask that you try to find another Crisis Line Volunteer to switch or take the shift for you, then inform the office of any changes to the schedule. In the event you cannot arrange coverage, you must contact the Volunteer Coordinator.

Requirements

• Maintain confidentiality as outlines in NRSAC’s Confidentiality Policy.
• Adhere to NRSAC’s policies and procedures, including the Code of Ethics.
• Act within NRSAC’s Vision/Mission Statements • Have access to a phone and environment that ensures confidentiality.
• Attend a minimum of 2Volunteer Meetings and or Volunteers Workshops per year sponsored by NRSAC.

Commitment

• Agree to commit to this program for one year
• Actively participate in sharing monthly coverage of the 24-hour crisis line during week evenings (4:30pm – 9am following morning) and weekends (Fridays starting 4:30pm – 9am Monday) and any statutory holidays.
• Crisis Line Volunteers are asked to work a minimum of 18 hours per month, divided equally between weeknights and weekends. Customized shifts are accommodated.

Training

• Must have successfully completed the Crisis Line Volunteer training