NOVA, Bucks County’s comprehensive crime victim services agency, is looking for volunteers for its 24/7 Phone Helpline, Text/Chat Helpline, and to support victims of sexual assault and other crimes during emergency room visits or police interviews. The spring sessions of crisis volunteer training will begin in May.
Volunteers are crucial to ensuring that NOVA can provide 24/7 support to victims of crimes such as sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and more. Volunteers provide accompaniment, emotional support, information about NOVA’s services, and resources to victims who call the Helpline or receive a medical-forensic exam at a local hospital.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years-old, have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (needed for emergency room visits or police interviews), meet all required clearances (child abuse, criminal record check, and FBI fingerprinting), complete a 45-hour training program, and, upon acceptance into the program, sign a confidentiality agreement.
Credit: Sunshine Foundation
The crisis volunteer training consists of individual sessions on specific topics related to crime and victimization, conducted by NOVA staff members who are experts in these areas. Topics covered by the training include counseling skills, recognizing and responding to child abuse, crisis intervention, the criminal justice system, and more. The training sessions are free of charge and will be presented by NOVA professionals in the organization’s Jamison office. Days and times will be announced at a later date on the NOVA website and social media platforms.
NOVA is looking for crisis volunteers for its 24/7 Phone Helpline, Text/Chat Helpline and to support victims of serious crimes during emergency room visits or police interviews. Photo and Caption Submitted by NOVA.
Volunteers will attend sessions to learn how to best respond to Helpline calls and provide victim/survivor-centered and trauma-informed support during emergency room visits or police interviews. Volunteer shifts take place during evening and weekend hours, with flexible shifts of 2 to 6 hours.
NOVA Bucks County was founded in 1974 as Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR).It was the first and continues to be the only rape crisis center in Bucks County. During the early to mid-1980’s when the federal government began to acknowledge and address the needs of victims of crime, WOAR was expanded to become NOVA, the comprehensive victim services organization in the County serving all victims of crime and to providing prevention education services.
Click here for more information on volunteering
Those interested in volunteering must register in advance to allow time for processing. To register for NOVA’s Crisis Volunteer Training, or for more information about this or other volunteer opportunities, please contact Julie Dugery, Coordinator of Volunteers and Community Outreach, NOVA, at 215-343-6543, ext. 6604, or by email at JulieD@NOVABucks.org.
