Alternatives To Violence of the Palouse, Inc.
Help for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence, friends and non-offending family members, with a focus on prevention education and community outreach.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
What kind of training will I need before becoming a volunteer or intern?
Volunteer advocates must complete 45 hours of training. The training is offered once per year and includes education about domestic violence, sexual assault, personal safety, advocacy-based support, empowerment, and local resources.
It is necessary for advocates to be open-minded and non-judgmental both in their approach to their pre-service training. Advocate training is a major commitment in terms of time and energy, in an attempt to prepare future volunteers to promote ATVP's mission and service provisions.
During the training you will become prepared to deal with crisis situations. ATVP policies and procedures and ethics are explained during this time.
This year, ATVP will be training its advocates to work with victims of crime under our new VOCA grant from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy. Advocates will be prepared to offer assistance, support, and referrals to victims with all crimes of robbery, burglary, arson, identity theft, human trafficking, homicide, and harassment.
When does training start?
The dates for the fall advocate training are typically around late-September and early-October. We try to hold training on weekends and weekday evenings whenever possible.
Spring 2007 training will begin March 20th, with applications being due by March 2nd. See the advocate training schedule document (on-line) for more details as to dates and times.
Is there ongoing training after we are contracted?
Yes, our volunteers and interns are required to attend monthly advocate meetings and complete ongoing training requirements.
What kind of time commitment do I have to make as a volunteer?
Volunteers need to commit to a full school year or a 12 month time period. We prefer that volunteers commit to at least two hotline shifts a month. This means one 16.5 hour shift and one 24 hour weekend shift. The hotline is a cell phone that is carried with you, so you do not have to be at the office for the shift.
Can I apply for just one semester?
No, we need a year long commitment because of the lengthy training process.
Will I be working in unsafe conditions?
We try to limit the unsafe conditions as much as possible. We have policies in place to keep our interns and volunteers safe.
How many volunteers will there be?
The ideal is to have 20 volunteers, but there is not a limit set
Will I be working alone if a crisis occurs?
No, there will be another volunteer and several backups on call when you have the crisis hotline.
Are there mandatory fees?
No, there are not any mandatory fees. Donations are accepted for the training materials, which cost $20 to produce and $10 for the criminal background check.
What restrictions are there for being a volunteer or intern?
You must pass the criminal background check, be able to respect client confidentiality, and work without discrimination
Can I receive college credit for doing an internship?
Yes, interns can frequently arrange to earn class credit for their time in areas of study such as sociology, psychology, and justice studies.
Can I receive college credit for volunteering?
Students attending Washington State University or the University of Idaho should check with their respective schools' Students in Service Scholarship program.
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