remember the times, before, when he would play Nintendo
with me everyday."
-- From an eight-year old child at My Sister's Home
shelter
Direct service volunteers play an active role in reversing
the tide of domestic violence. Direct service opportunities
include working as a victim's advocate on the crisis
line, in shelter or with children's programs, becoming
a Safehome provider or working as a legal advocate.
Am
I Qualified To Volunteer For Direct Service?
A
direct service volunteer must be someone who demonstrates
the ability to actively listen, understand and establish
a warm, trusting, non-judgmental relationship with a
client. It is important the volunteer be able to make
a quick decision and act upon it confidently--but even
more significantly, the volunteer must possess the ability
to respect a client's decisions and allow the client
to take responsibility for her/his decisions.
Direct
service volunteers must have strong skills enabling
them to work independently and as part of a group. They
must be willing to work with persons of diverse ages,
ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual preferences
and lifestyles, and they must demonstrate an ability
to respond effectively in a crisis situation. It is
not necessary that a person have had experience or education
in counseling or domestic violence. If you have been
a victim of domestic violence we do ask that you have
been safe and violence free for at least one year before
beginning the challenging process of volunteering.
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© 2000-2003 Eastside Domestic Violence Program
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