Hodac’s Crime Victim Advocate Volunteers respond to local hospitals to assist victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.  Advocates provide information, referrals, any emergency supplies needed, and – most of all – compassion and a high level of emotional support during a difficult and frightening time.  Their role is to ensure that the victim’s needs are met and that he/she is treated fairly and with respect by other agencies involved in the incident.  This unconditional support works to empower the victim, allowing him/her regain control of his/her life.

Legally speaking, Crime Victim Advocates are not attorneys, but they function in important ways as compassionate liaison personnel who can make the court process manageable.

You can help! Volunteer to become a Crime Victim Advocate with Hodac.  Screenings and 16 hours (two days) of class training are required.

For a volunteer application, and more information about volunteering, call Hodac at 953-5675

Crime Victim Advocate Volunteers assume several important duties. They provide emotional support and referrals to available community resources, and they ensure that the client’s needs are met and that s/he is treated fairly and with respect by other agencies involved. Crime Victim Advocates are not attorneys but liaisons who can make the process of navigating the court system more manageable.

Volunteers are on call weekday evenings and weekends on a rotational basis.  They respond to the hospital in pairs, one volunteer working with the family, and the other assisting the victim.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Crime Victim Advocate with our rape and domestic violence response unit, contact us for an application. 478-953-5675.

Volunteer requirements are as follows:

1. Must be at least 18 years old and willing to help others in tension-filled crisis situations;
2. Must be able to provide your own transportation;
3. Must be able to attend initial trainings and subsequent training sessions on a regular basis;
4. Must be available for hospital call-outs approximately 5 to 7 nights per month;
5. Must be willing to complete a criminal background check, drug screening and fingerprinting;
6. Must be caring, compassionate and able to work with others;
7. Must be interested in helping victims in the community

Hodac's Core Volunteer Training equips volunteers to work successfully with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  Hodac currently provides this 2-day/16 hour training on a quarterly basis to volunteers. Topics in the training sessions include: client confidentiality; ethics; relationship policy with clients; crisis response protocol; roles of team members; victims' rights; domestic violence information (statistics, defining family violence and its dynamics, myths and facts, stalking, marital rape, the effects of family violence on children, and safety planning); sexual assault information (statistics, defining sexual assault and its dynamics; date rape drugs; reducing one's risk of being drugged; myths and facts; sexual assault exam procedures; overview of common effects of sexual assault; medical concerns and sexually transmitted diseases; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; profile of a rapist; cultural sensitivity and communication with victims.

Click here to download a Volunteer Application and information about volunteer requirements.