Volunteer Opportunities

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.

Volunteer Opportunities

Everyone says,
"Somebody should do something to help."
BE SOMEBODY!
VOLUNTEER

WHY VOLUNTEER WITH ATVP?
. . . for the opportunity to support and empower victims and survivors of violence.
. . . for the chance to work directly towards creating a non-violent society.
. . . for course credit.
. . . to gain and develop skills in advocacy-based counseling.
. . . for the chance to work with a well-respected, community renown, professional staff.
. . . to enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to volunteerism.
. . . to participate directly in feminism and the global cause of ending violence against women.
. . . for the chance to work with a range of survivors across ethnic/racial, religious, ability, sexuality, and gender spectrums,
. . . and thereby to build cultural & diversity competency.
. . . to increase your awareness and raise your consciousness of violence in our society.
. . . for an invaluable segue into a future career in victim and survivor advocacy.
. . . for an unique insight into an important part of any law, social services, healthcare, counseling, or law enforcement career.
. . . to gain marketable skills in inter-agency communication and community collaboration.
. . . for opportunities for service scholarships (see below).
. . . for others, for the community, and for yourself.

* If you are interested donating to ATVP (we accept money, food, and assorted clothing and miscellaneous items as needed) please visit our Donation Wish List page and call (509) 332-0552 for more information. Thank you!

Listed below is the Training Schedule for Spring 2008 (in pdf format) and all of the forms new advocates must complete in order to join the program (in Microsoft Word format):

Advocate Training Schedule

Volunteer Interest Letter

Volunteer Advocate Program Agreement

Reference Letter

Volunteer Application Form

Advocate Job Description

FAQs

If you want to take volunteering with ATVP one step further... find out more about Internships with Alternatives to Violence!

VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES

Volunteer advocates complete a 40 to 45 hour training that is offered once per year. The training includes education about domestic violence, sexual assault, personal safety, advocacy-based support, empowerment, and local resources. Volunteer advocates are asked to cover three crisis line shifts per month, with opportunities for additional service available.

Pre-Service Advocate training is an intensive study to prepare advocates to deal with the crisis situations they will encounter. Training begins by explaining ATVP policies and procedures, as well as the advocate's role and ethics within ATVP's empowerment model of providing services. There is a strong focus on listening and communicating for an advocate to be able to provide crisis intervention to a broad base of clients. Both sexual assault and domestic violence are explored in depth and make up the majority of the training program. Definitions and continuums of violence and abuse are explained to give advocates practical training to provide hands-on intervention, and histories and theories of domestic violence and sexual assault are explored to place violence within its social context. It is necessary for advocates to be open-minded and non-judgmental both in their approach to their pre-service training, as well as the provision of crisis services in order to reach out to a variety of diverse populations. 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. A $20 donation is encouraged to assist with costs for the Advocate Training Program.

In addition to our regular training on sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking this year ATVP will be training its advocates to work with general victims of crime under our new VOCA grant from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy. All crimes from robbery, burglary, and arson to identity theft, human trafficking, homicide, and harassment - ATVP advocates will be prepared to offer assistance, support, and referrals to victims from all over Whitman County (Washington state's Region 8). This is an exciting opportunity for both advocates and staff and we look forward to developing our services collaboratively over the next year!

SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Students attending Washington State University or the University of Idaho and interested in volunteering with Alternatives to Violence, be sure to check-out your respective schools' Students in Service Scholarship program! Through Americorps your volunteer work with ATVP can be arranged to count towards special recognition and scholarships; visit http://www.studentsinservice.org/home.html for information on the national Students In Service program.

- For University of Idaho students interested in enrolling in an Americorps service scholarship program at the University of Idaho, contact Steve Janowiak at janowiak@sub.uidaho.edu or by calling (208) 885-6331.
- For Washington State University students, call (509) 335-0578 or visit the Community Service Learning Center webpage and click on "Getting Started" to access the instructions page.

Supplemental Training Materials

Here are the links to the car seat safety training videos provided by Partners for Child Passenger Safety:

1. "Car Safety for Your Infant"
2. "Car Safety for Your Toddler"
3. "Car Safety for Your 4-to-8-year-old"

Our agency could not do the work we do without your help!
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!!

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