HOTLINE VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
The Cottage, Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center raises awareness and facilitates the healing of individuals, families, and communities affected by sexual violence and child abuse.
The Cottage operates a 24/7 crisis hotline to help provide crisis counseling, support, education, and advocacy to survivors, their families, and to our community members. The hotline is answered by staff and interns during business hours and by trained volunteer hotline advocates during nights, weekends, and holidays.
The Cottage is seeking dedicated and responsible volunteers to help maintain 24/7 coverage on our hotline, to help provide empathetic support to survivors of all ages, and to help connect callers to the necessary resources.
Volunteer Requirements:
o Volunteers are expected to sign up for at least 4 shifts a month and are asked to commit to this role for at least a year.
o Weekday shifts are 5pm-9am Monday-Friday
o Weekend shifts are 9am-5pm and 5pm-9am Saturday and Sunday
o Holiday shifts follow a weekend schedule (including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Day After, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day)
o This position is remote but does require having access to a personal cell phone to take calls.
o The volunteer must be able to answer all calls that come in during the day/night and document in The Cottage database system.
o Volunteers must be able to uphold confidentiality in all regards.
o Volunteers must complete an application, interview, and complete a Criminal Background Check
o Volunteers must be available to attend a two-day weekend training prior to taking shifts
o Hotline Trainings occur twice a year in the Fall and Spring. For updates on training dates, please complete the Hotline Advocate Application below.
If you are interested in applying to volunteer as a Hotline Advocate, please complete the application below. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please feel free to email us at cottagehotline@gmail.com with any questions.