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Criteria for Acceptance as an RVAP Advocate | Guidelines for Advocates

Criteria for Acceptance as an RVAP Advocate

RVAP volunteer applicants must :

  • Be at least 19 years old.
  • Provide references.
  • Commit to the time requirements for training and volunteering. We prefer a commitment of at least one year.
  • Be mentally and emotionally prepared to commit to the volunteer training process.
  • Have the communications skills necessary to absorb the training material and be able to communicate effectively with and keep records of interactions with people using RVAP services.
  • Demonstrate effective listening skills and respectful communication in all RVAP interactions and volunteer work, including the volunteer interview and training.
  • Demonstrate acceptance of diverse lifestyles, values, and opinions, and refrain from judging survivors' choices.
  • Be committed to, and motivated by, the desire to provide advocacy, support, and information to survivors of sexual abuse and their significant others.
  • Show an ability to understand and willingness to adapt to a non-blaming, nondirective, survivor-centered model of counseling.

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Guidelines for Advocates

It is the goal of RVAP to provide phone crisis intervention and in-person advocacy to victims/survivors of sexual assault and to the significant others of sexual assault victims/survivors. These services are generally provided by staff members Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm and by volunteer advocates after business hours and on weekends. In order to provide the highest quality services to victims/survivors, RVAP trains its volunteers on all aspects of sexual assault issues. The ability to provide quality services depends on being well trained (knowledge & skills) and emotionally healthy.

A lack of training (knowledge & skills) could result in:

  • inaccurate information being relayed to the victim/survivor or significant other and/or
  • unintentional insensitive remarks being made to the victim/survivor or significant other

A lack of emotional health could result in:

  • the inability to provide support and advocacy to the caller and/or
  • the possibility of making mistakes that would be harmful to the victim/survivor or significant other, and/or
  • a detrimental affect on the advocate who is trying to offer support but is not feeling emotionally healthy themselves.

To that end, it is essential that volunteers:

  • attend RVAP training and successfully complete all aspects of training,
  • attend continuing education opportunities as they are available,
  • request training or additional information about topics on which they feel unsure,
  • convey concerns, insecurities or inadequacies they may have to the Volunteer Coordinator or Executive Director,
  • agree to receive feedback on their volunteer duties,
  • pay attention to their personal emotional well being and stress level; and/or
  • agree to request time off from their advocate duties if they are experiencing stress; busy schedules; sleep deprivation; or circumstances that are negatively impacting their emotional health, which would affect their ability to provide advocacy and support to sexual assault victims/significant others.

If volunteers are sexual assault victims/survivors, it is particularly important for them to pay attention to their own emotional well-being. Sometimes providing support to other victims/survivors may trigger issues for advocates who are also victims/survivors. It is important that volunteers talk with RVAP staff about past sexual assaults. This is important to assure that volunteers have had time for their own healing and receive the support they need. Volunteers and RVAP staff can work together to determine whether attending training or taking call is appropriate at this time. Ultimately, it is the decision of the RVAP staff as to whether a potential volunteer can participate in training or whether a volunteer can act as an on-call advocate.

If volunteers experience sexual assault while actively volunteering, it is essential that they have time to heal from this experience. Generally, we remove the volunteer from active call for a year. We offer the volunteer support, counseling and advocacy. We will work with the volunteer to determine readiness and ability to return to active status.

Sign up now for the next training class: offered 3 times per year in February, June and September.

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