Volunteer with Valley Crisis Center

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us.

Without the support of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, abilities, talents, and time availability, we would be unable to advance our mission to end violence in our community. By having individuals who are passionate about being a part of the solution, you help us reach those we may not have otherwise due to limited staffing and funding.

Valley Crisis Center has a long history of encouraging volunteers to contribute to our success.

Levels of volunteering

Direct Service Volunteer

A Direct Service Volunteer is someone who has completed the required 80 Hour training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and are certified to work with survivors on a confidential level.

These volunteers can help with the following roles:

• Crisis Services
• Legal Aide
• Peer Counselor & Support Group Facilitator
• Shelter Aid

For a Direct Service Volunteer to work with survivors of Human Trafficking, an additional 40-Hour training is required.

Indirect Service Volunteer

An Indirect Service Volunteer is someone who has not completed the necessary training to work with survivors but has gotten the basic overview training on Valley Crisis Center, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking.

These volunteers are equally important to the success of Valley Crisis Center's mission by supporting with the following roles:

• Outreach Specialist

Requirements

Valley Crisis Center has the following general requirements for all levels of volunteering:

• Must be 18 Years or Older
• All applicants must pass a background check.
• A Valid Drivers License and 5 years of driving experience
  • In order to transport clients & use company vehicles

Direct Service Volunteer

In addition to the requirements above, a Direct Service Volunteer must have:

• Must complete the state required 40 Hour Domestic Violence Training
  • This is required to work with intimate partner survivors.
• Must complete the state required 40 Hour Sexual Assault Training
  • This is required to work with sexual assault survivors
• Optional: Must complete the state required 40 Hour Human Trafficking Training
  • This is required to work with human trafficking survivors

Indirect Service Volunteer

In addition to the general requirements, an Indirect Service Volunteer must have:

• Training on VCC 101, DV 101, SA 101 and HT 101

What does direct service volunteering look like?

Below you will find a basic description of current available volunteer opportunities. These require volunteers to hold at least the Domestic Violence Certificate Training. Those holding the Domestic Violence Certificate can work with survivors of intimate partner violence only. When the Sexual Assault Certification Training becomes available, current volunteers will be provided information on attending.

Crisis Services

Crisis Services Volunteers are typically stationed at Valley Crisis Center's main office, however, there are also hybrid and remote availabilities. This volunteer opportunity looks like:

• Responding to requests by law enforcement, medical providers, and other community partners to provide an in-person assessment to a survivor in the community
• Conducting in-person or by-phone assessments at Valley Crisis Center's office during business hours
• Providing referrals and resources that fit a survivor's needs
• Following up with survivors

Legal Aide

Legal Aides are stationed at Valley Crisis Center's office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:

• Assisting with calling and reminding survivors of appointments and court dates
• Following up with survivors with status updates on their restraining order
• Assisting with picking up and dropping off restraining order documents at Merced County Superior Court and Merced County Sheriff's Office
• Reviewing restraining order with survivors
• Attending court with survivors as a support person
• Assisting survivors with completing restraining order forms via individual appointments or a workshop setting

Peer Counselor & Support Group Facilitator

Peer Counselor & Support Group Facilitators are stationed at Valley Crisis Center's office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:

• Holding one-on-one appointments with survivors in-person or by-phone
• Helping survivors create a safety plan if they are in an unsafe environment
• Providing resources and information on recovering from trauma caused by intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking
• Connecting survivors with agencies in the community that fit their needs
• Holding one or more of Valley Crisis Center's weekly groups for adults or children
• Using the available group curriculum
• Providing guidance on group art activities
• Guiding group conversations around the weekly topic

Shelter Aid

Shelter Aids are stationed at Valley Crisis Center's Safe House during and after business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:

• Responding to requests by law enforcement, medical providers, and other community partners to provide an in-person assessment to a survivor in the community
• Conducting by-phone assessments over the hotline
• Providing referrals and resources to safe house residents and hotline callers
• Following up with survivors
• Providing case-by-case transportation assistance to safe house residents
• Conducting safe house groups & resident meetings
• Assisting with the organization of donations to the safe house

What does indirect service volunteering look like?

Indirect Volunteers are only asked to attend our basic 101 training. The following opportunity looks like:

Outreach Specialist

The Outreach Specialist is a hybrid opportunity that spends time both at Valley Crisis Center's main office and out and about in the community. This volunteer opportunity looks like:

• Attending community events as a vendor and answering questions about Valley Crisis Center Services
• Conducting presentations and general trainings to community members on intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking
• Assisting with researching and updating community resources with information gained from outreach events
• Assisting with outreach and fundraising for events, including donation collection
• Assisting with planning and implementing awareness events for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human Trafficking, and Teen Dating Violence awareness months
• Assisting with creating social media content in regards to Valley Crisis Center services, events, fundraisers, and awareness months.

Interested in volunteering?

If you can picture yourself in one of the opportunities above, we'd love to hear from you.

To get started, complete the Volunteer Interest Form online (opens Microsoft Forms), call us at (209) 725‑7900, or stop by our office at 812 W. 18th Street, Merced CA 95340 to complete it in person. An advocate from Valley Crisis Center will reach out to you when there are availabilities in the volunteer program with further instructions.

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Questions?

Please see our frequently asked questions below. If your question is not answered, please call us at (209) 725‑7900 and ask for Cesilie.

I'm a college student and can I volunteer only during the school year?

Yes, you can volunteer during the school year and pause your volunteering when you go home on breaks.

I can only volunteer at specific times, is that okay?

Yes! We try to work with your schedule as your time is valuable and being donated to us. Please note that certain roles are limited to the type of training you have. After hours or weekends may require the 40-Hour Human Trafficking Training.

I'm a survivor, can I volunteer?

Yes, but we do encourage that survivors delay volunteering for 6 – 12 months after experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Working with other survivors can be triggering and we believe that survivors need ample time to heal. If you have questions on this policy, please call us at (209) 725‑7900.

I'm looking for an internship, can you help?

Valley Crisis Center is unable to offer internships at this time if your program requires you to be overseen by someone who has a license in psychology or social work.

If your program requires general volunteer hours that does not require a licensed professional, we may have opportunities available.

What are the steps to becoming a volunteer?

1. Complete the Volunteer Interest Form online or in person at our office, or call (209) 725‑7900 to get started.
2. In 72-Hours, someone will reach out to you. The conversation can go three ways:
   1. They'll send you an application and a questionnaire to complete.
   2. They'll have additional questions about your interest.
   3. They'll let you know that Valley Crisis Center doesn't currently have opportunities that align with your interests but will keep your information for future reference.
3. Once you return your application and questionnaire, someone will reach out to you within 72-hours. If you're found to be a good fit, they'll call to schedule an interview.
4. Your interview will be held.
5. After your interview, you will be asked to complete a background check.
6. If your background check comes back clear, you'll be added to the domestic violence & sexual assault certificate training or the 101 training depending on your interest.

Do you host your own trainings?

Valley Crisis Center, in partnership with Mountain Crisis Services in Mariposa County typically hold two trainings a year. When a training is available, information will be made available on this page.