Click here to apply for our next Advocate Training series.

 

 

Be part of the movement to end sexual violence and join our team of Sexual Assault Counselors making a difference in our community! 

 

What do our volunteers, also known as our Sexual Assault Counselors or Advocates, do?

• Answer our 24-hour helpline where phone calls are received from individuals seeking emotional support and requesting Sexual Assault Advocates for forensic exams. 

• Respond to our local hospitals or local police departments to assist survivors during sexual assault forensic exams and the reporting process.

• Assist and represent MCRCC at community events, lectures and presentations.

 

The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center offers a 47+ hour state certified training to become a Sexual Assault Counselor. During the training you will learn about crisis intervention and sexual assault advocacy, community resources, the reporting process, collaboration with other agencies on behalf of survivors and best practices when working with survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, and child abuse; and their significant others. As of 2022, the training is being offered three times a year: Fall 2022, Winter 2023 and Summer 2023.

 

Eligibility and Commitment:

• Applicants must be over the age of 18 years of age.

• Applicants must have an interest in assisting sexual assault survivors and significant others.

• Applicants must be willing/able to work with diverse populations (cultural, racial, socioeconomic, religious, sexual orientation, etc.)

• Applicants must give consent for and understand that MCRCC will require Livescan fingerprinting.

• Applicants must be able to attend all training sessions.

• Applicants must be able to attend monthly in-service meetings (typically the 1st Tuesday of the month).

• Applicants must commit to 6 months of volunteering.

• Applicants must commit to covering 4 shifts per month, 2 Helpline shifts and 2 SART shifts. Available shifts are typically nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Past or present perpetrators of sexual or physical abuse and/or any violent crime are not eligible to participate in Sexual Assault Counselor Training.

• Applicants with a history of chemical dependency must have been clean and sober for at least 1 year prior to training.

• Sexual assault survivors must be emotionally ready to assist other survivors and be no less than a year past their own assault / abuse experience.

 

MCRCC reserves the right to refuse enrollment to anyone whom they feel is not suitable for the program. Participation in training does not guarantee certification as a Sexual Assault Counselor nor does it guarantee a volunteer assignment.

 

Information regarding our Sexual Assault Counselor Training:

Our Sexual Assault Counselor Training is currently being facilitated in a hybrid model: we will be meeting via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 06:00 - 09:00 PM, and meeting in person from 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM on Saturdays.

If potential volunteers have accessibility concerns with the remote platform, please reach out at andy@mtryrapecrisis.org and our Crisis Intervention Services Manager Andy will connect with you to troubleshoot and offer solutions. 

 

Application Process:

Apply online to become a Sexual Assault Counselor here.

Completion of the application above and a scheduled interview is required for completion of the application process. Any scheduled conflicts for training sessions must be discussed with the Crisis Intervention Services Manager prior to beginning the training.

For more information call (831) 373-3955 or email andy@mtryrapecrisis.org.

 

Thank you for your interest!