Volunteer Positions

I am working to increase awareness regarding sexual violence.

Starred (*) positions are considered direct service positions.

Administrative Projects
These positions offer a meaningful way to support survivors without being involved with direct services. Volunteers are needed for a variety of special projects, small tasks, and ongoing office work. Projects may include stuffing envelopes, data entry, office support, filing, updating referral packets, copying, research, creating publications, developing training materials, and translating. 

Current projects include: researching and writing new content for BARCC’s website; planning a training for Child Care professionals on preventing sexual violence.

Commitment: Minimum of eight hours per week.
Training: Varies depending on tasks. 

Community Awareness & Prevention Volunteers

Volunteers in the Community Awareness & Prevention Services (CAPS) program work to increase public awareness of the issue of sexual assault, BARCC’s services, and prevention strategies.  Volunteers will engage in community outreach activities (i.e. distributing BARCC materials, providing information tables, attending community events, etc.).  CAPS volunteers also accompany Survivor Speakers to provide BARCC information and audience support.  Experienced volunteers will provide awareness/prevention workshops to various audiences: middle and high schools, colleges, universities, community groups, shelters, conferences, and various service providers. 

Requirements and Details:

  • Completion of 40 hour Rape Crisis Counselor training.
  • Attend mandatory Peer Supervision on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 6:30-8:00pm.
  • Spend 4-6 hours each month doing community outreach activities.  After receiving additional training which could take up to a year, volunteers can be certified to present awareness and prevention workshops. 
  • Volunteers interact with diverse community members, including survivors and significant others so must be prepared to receive disclosures and provide support.
  • Weekday daytime availability is very helpful.
  • CAPS is currently seeking female and male volunteers.

Fundraising Volunteers
These positions offer a meaningful way to support survivors without being involved with direct services. Volunteers work on committees, special events, drives, appeals, and a range of other fundraising-related tasks. Positions are available in writing, layout, design, graphics, computer work, research, organizing, phone calling, and more.

Commitment: Minimum of eight hours per week.
Training: Varies depending on tasks. 

Hotline Counselors

Our 24-hour hotline receives over 3,000 calls per year that are primarily answered by volunteers like you. Counselors provide crisis counseling over the telephone for survivors and their significant others.  They also provide resources and referrals to callers. 

Requirements and Details:

  • Completion of 40 hour Rape Crisis Counselor training and a “buddy” shift after graduation from training
  • Attend mandatory Peer Supervision on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm
  • Sign up for at least one shift per week.  Shifts are usually about 5 hours in length and every shift gets calls.  Shifts are available 24-hours a day.
  • Have access to a landline or a cell phone for use during your shift in a private, secure location.
  • You have a set time every week that you are taking calls.  You know exactly when your shift begins and ends; calls can be taken from your home.
  • The Hotline is currently seeking female volunteers.

Medical Advocates

Medical Advocates meet survivors at the hospital following a sexual assault 24-hours a day. They provide as much support and information as needed by the survivor and any significant others who may be with them throughout the time the survivor is in the emergency room. 

Requirements and Details:

  • Completion of 40 hour Rape Crisis Counselor training and a “buddy” shift after graduation from training.
  • Attend mandatory Peer Supervision on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm
  • Complete and return all necessary immunization and paperwork before the end of the training
  • Sign up for at least one shift per week.  Shifts are 5-8 hours in length when you carry a cell phone so that you can be notified to go to the hospital.  You may not get called to go to the hospital every week. 
  • A valid driver’s license and access to a car are not necessary.  You must, however, be able to make it to a designated SANE hospital in our service area within 45 minutes of receiving a page.
  • Cases average about 4 hours, so you need flexibility in availability around your shift.  You may be called at the end of your shift and then be at the hospital for several hours past when your shift ended.
  • Medical Advocacy is currently seeking female volunteers.

One-time Volunteers
Help out at specific BARCC events throughout the year. We’ll e-mail you several weeks before the event to see if you are available.

Commitment: Participation in one event per year.
Training: Varies depending on task.

Special Projects
We can design a special project for someone who has a specific skill set. For example, a database designer recently upgraded our data collection system, a graphic designer developed a brochure, and a librarian developed a searchable database of articles on sexual violence.

Commitment: To complete project.
Training: None.

To find out more about any of the volunteer opportunities listed, please contact BARCC’s Volunteer Assistant at volunteer@barcc.org.


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