Donate your time, strengthen your community
The YWCA needs volunteers to help deliver our services. Most time requirements are flexible and the opportunities are diverse. Current opportunities are listed below.
To learn more, call Maureen Warren today at 413-755-3154.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Hotline
Domestic Violence and Sexual assault certification required. Additional training also required. Volunteer tasks include required paperwork and observation shifts. Training is an additional 20-80 hours. Volunteer responsibilities include properly completing hotline logs of all calls, providing emotional support to victims, survivors and significant others; assessing risk, safety planning, referral to services through the YWCA of Western MA and ARCH program---as well as referrals to other community providers when appropriate as well as appropriate screening of shelter requests. Volunteer always has supervisor back-up. Volunteer time commitment during training should be no less than three 4 hour shifts a week; and after additional training a minimum of two 8 hour shifts per month are required. Supervision is on-going and as needed and includes attendance in monthly volunteer meetings.
Childcare Advocate/Group Worker
Some training required. Full certification preferred, but not required. Volunteer tasks include individual child care as needed (e.g., Doctor appointments or court appearances) and volunteer co- facilitation of childcare play groups and structured support groups. Groups are held both in the community and the shelter. A consistent volunteer time commitment required. Paperwork requirements may include program logs outlining group activities. Supervision is on-going and as needed, includes attending monthly volunteer meetings.
No certification needed. Volunteer tasks include distribution of hotline cards and flyers to public places (Medical centers, Dr.’s offices, Schools. etc.) Volunteer time commitment is flexible. Documentation responsibilities include contact list/ address of locations of drop offs. Volunteer supervision requirements are minimal.
Sexual Assault Crisis Response
Rape Crisis Counseling (R.C.C.) certification additional paperwork training required. Volunteer tasks include responding to emergency room for support and advocacy of victims of sexual assault and significant others. Response is by beeper, volunteer must make a commitment to respond by telephone within 15 minutes to local hospitals (Bay State, Mercy, Holyoke,) no more than 45 minutes. Volunteer time commitment is for two 12 hour on-call shifts per month. All shifts are scheduled from 5 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m., Monday. Volunteers on crisis response will always have a supervisor back-up. Supervision is on-going and as needed and includes attending monthly volunteer meetings.
Domestic Violence Crisis Response
Domestic Violence (D.V.) advocacy certification and additional paperwork training required. Volunteer tasks include responding to a secure location such as a hospital, police station, YWCA on Clough Street. Volunteer advocate will complete intake paperwork, assess risk, provide safety planning, provide referrals and options, and advocate when necessary for victim’s rights and services. Volunteer advocates will always have a supervisor back-up. Time scheduling is flexible and D.V. volunteer time commitment is a minimum of 12 hours per month. Supervision is on-going as needed and includes attendance at monthly volunteer meetings.
No certification or specific training required. Volunteer tasks include, assisting with the physical upkeep of the shelter, donation organization, food stocking, and fall and spring cleaning. A volunteer time commitment is flexible and may be for a specific project, weekly or monthly. No specific paperwork or specific supervision requirements.
Domestic Violence (D.V.) and/or Rape Crisis Counseling (R.C.C.) Certification required. Additional legal advocacy training also required. Volunteer tasks include accompanying victims and survivors to court proceedings such as 209a hearings, criminal violations, and divorce and custody matters. A volunteer advocate’s role is to provide emotional support, explain proceedings, advocate for victim with court personnel and attorneys when appropriate.
