Volunteers at BARCC participate as hotline counselors, medical advocates, public speakers, clinical supervisors, fundraisers and more.

2. What type of training do I need in order to volunteer?

With the exception of clinical supervisors, no prior experience is necessary. However, those interested in Hotline, Medical Advocacy, or Community Awareness & Prevention Services must attend our intensive, 50-hour training program. This training results in state certification as a rape crisis counselor.

3. When is the training offered and how can I get involved?

Trainings are offered four times a year in January, June, August, and September. The June and August sessions are for a full week (Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm). The January and September sessions are held on week nights and Saturdays.

If you are interested in completing the training for professional reasons but are unable to volunteer at BARCC, please contact us and we can send you information about upcoming provider trainings.

Volunteers are a diverse group of people, and you do not need any past experience to do this type of work. Men are encouraged to apply to be trained for our Community Awareness and Prevention Services program

For non-direct service positions, the hours are flexible, as are the skills you would bring with you. We are happy to provide supervision and training as necessary.

For direct service positions (Hotline, Medical Advocacy, and CAPS):
· You must be at least 18 years of age.
· Volunteers must be able to give a one year minimum commitment.
· Volunteers must be able to take one shift per week for hotline and medical advocacy and two engagements per month for CAPS. There is mandatory peer supervision twice a month for each position.
· If you are a survivor, we ask that you have received some sort of supportive services and that it has been at least one year since the experience. If you received services at BARCC, we ask that it has been at least one year since these services ended.

5. How do I apply?! What is the process?

If you are interested in receiving more information and an application please contact BARCC's Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@barcc.org or (617) 492-8306 and leave your phone number AND email address. We will send out information packets about a month before the training begins.

For every training there are two Information & Interview sessions. Attendance at one of these is mandatory for anyone wishing to apply for a direct service position. These meetings take place a few weeks prior to the start of training and are designed so that you can hear more about each of the programs and talk with staff and current volunteers. At the end of the meeting, each applicant is interviewed.

6. If I have been trained in another state do I need to be trained again?

Yes. Any volunteer providing direct service must be trained in the state of MA, since laws and protocol vary by state and organization. If you have received training in MA, but not with BARCC, some additional training may still be necessary and will vary case by case.

Please call (617) 492-8306 and ask to speak with someone about volunteering, or email volunteer@barcc.org if you have any other questions or need additional information.