(Credit: NOVA Bucks County)
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. They 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.
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 later on the NOVA website and social media platforms.
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.
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 [email protected].
About NOVA
NOVA supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and prevention programs. Founded in 1974, NOVA is a non-profit 501(c)(3), community-based organization operating out of three offices in Fairless Hills, Jamison and Perkasie. Services are made possible through the financial support of federal, state and local government grants and contracts, corporations, foundations and private donations. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. For more information, visit www.NOVABucks.org.
