The agency provides volunteer opportunities to individuals who are at least 18 years of age and who live in Los Angeles County. Services are targeted, but not restricted, to residents of Boyle Heights, Downey, East Los Angeles, Highland Park, Huntington Park, Montebello and Santa Fe Springs. Services include clerical volunteer opportunities, crisis intervention volunteer opportunities, individual/group advocacy volunteer opportunities and public speaking volunteer opportunities. There are no geographic restrictions.

Clerical volunteers provide in-house administrative assistance for agency services.

Crisis intervention volunteers answer calls on the agency's 24 hour hotline and provide crisis intervention, short-term counseling, and information and referral to individuals who have been sexually assaulted. Crisis intervention volunteers must be "on call" and available to answer calls at least twice a month.

Individual/group advocacy volunteers act on behalf of clients to help the clients connect with information and referral services, shelters, community agencies and government agencies.

Public speaking volunteers represent the agency and provide community awareness services at health fairs and other community and government functions.

Agency volunteers receive 54 hours of training. The agency holds quarterly training classes. The nine week training class meets Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Agency training classes are taught by the Sexual Assault Program Director and are certified by the State of California Office of Criminal Justice Planning. Individuals who complete the agency training receive a Certificate of Completion. Class topics include sexual assault, public awareness, and self defense.

The program also provides a 12-hour training course in English and Spanish for "Promotoras" to learn about Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault issues and to become advocates in their own communities, churches and other groups. The Promotoras seek to raise awareness about DV and Sexual Assault warning signs and dangers; stalking; teen date rape; and to help women feel encouraged to seek help if they have been victimized.

Volunteers are not asked to take and pass any tests and the agency does not complete background checks. Volunteers are asked to commit 24 hours per month, for up to 12 months. APPLICATION PROCEDURE Call, walk-in, or write the agency for a volunteer application. The applicant must return the written application, and submit to an interview with a program director. FEES/PAYMENT SOURCE Call for fee information.