The Women's Center

Direct Services Volunteers

• Must be at least 18 years of age and pass a DCFS background check and a criminal background check.
• Perform crisis intervention for both adult and child victims of sexual assault at local hospitals and police and sheriff departments. These volunteers complete a minimum of 40 hours of training and are certified for crisis intervention by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
• Work at the Shelter by staffing the front desk, maintaining security, greeting visitors, completing new client intakes, and assisting residents. These volunteers complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer training and are certified for crisis intervention by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
• Handle crisis hotline phone calls from victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. These volunteers complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer training and are certified for crisis intervention by the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
• Create a safe environment for child survivors of violence. The children's volunteers help kids learn to be kids again. Volunteers tutor, mentor, supervise play, chaperone field trips, and conduct activities. All children's program volunteers complete a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer training.
• Serve as translators to speakers of Spanish, and American Sign Language, and others. We make every effort to provide services to survivors in their native language. We ask that translators be native speakers themselves and complete a portion of our volunteer training.