Volunteers who generously give their time, energy, and skills in wide-ranging ways are truly at the heart of La Casa’s work, helping to ensure and sustain our free, confidential services 24/7/365. La Casa welcomes the 4 newest graduates of our Domestic Violence Counselor Training, who finished the month-long program on July 1st and are beginning to dive into involvement across our various programs! Each year in February and September, around 15 dedicated community members are selected from among a pool of remarkable applicants to participate in this training program and become direct service volunteers.
Choosing to reach out for help can be a difficult step for a survivor of domestic violence, sometimes years in the making, so it’s imperative that the responding staff and volunteers are highly trained—in the complexities of domestic violence, as well as in the mission, vision, and philosophies underpinning their work. Our Domestic Violence Counselor Training provides more than 40 hours of foundational education and skill-building to ground the work of our direct service volunteers. When a volunteer has completed the training, the confidentiality of the information a client shares with him or her is legally protected. So, in addition to providing important education and skills, this training critically protects the safety of our clients and their information. Read more about the confidentiality that the training provides here.
"The 40-hour training helped me see all the ways our culture & society perpetuate violence, and the ways that domestic violence and forms of oppression are intertwined. The training made me feel prepared with actual resources, skills, and language to support survivors in my everyday life & as a volunteer on the crisis line. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to be a part of this training!" - La Casa Volunteer
For the volunteers in June’s class, and all those who complete this training, it’s a big commitment! It demonstrates a profound dedication to being part of the Movement to End Domestic Violence, and requires a minimum of one year of volunteering after the training concludes. Training graduates assist in a range of capacities depending on their individual interests and availability, and in light of current program needs. Volunteers may provide counseling, resources, and information to callers on our 24 hour adult and teen crisis lines; conduct children’s activities, help with meal preparation, and give other support to the women and children living in our Emergency Shelter program; accompany survivors to court to offer emotional support during a sometimes daunting process; conduct activity groups and workshops for women living in the two permanent housing programs where La Casa provides supportive services; and deliver educational presentations on teen dating and domestic violence in the community. They bring a richness of talents and skills that can also lead to other creative involvements! La Casa’s volunteers are threaded throughout all aspects of our work, and many wear multiple hats as advocates supporting in several programs.
Along with direct service volunteering, community members can support La Casa’s work in other wide-ranging ways, like volunteering in administrative capacities at our Drop In Center, serving as a volunteer attorney through our Pro Bono Representation Panel, gathering with a workplace or community group to assist with a group project, or supporting with special events. If you’re interested in ways to be involved during any time throughout the year, read here! If you’d like to be notified of the chance to apply for future Domestic Violence Counselor Training cycles and direct service opportunities, please email Comed@lacasa.org. Find more training and application details here.