Volunteering Opportunities
Onsite Volunteers
Strength United relies on a unique team of dedicated volunteers working daily as rape crisis advocates, counselors, and prevention educators. Volunteers are essential to the mission of the center and provide direct services to clients.
Last year, volunteers answered 900 calls to our 24-hour hotline, accompanied 609 adults and children to forensic medical examinations for sexual assault, and conducted individual, group, and family therapy with over 1,000 individuals and families.
As a community-based organization, we rely on volunteers to promote and sustain our ongoing crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, education, and prevention programs.
The rewards of volunteering for Strength United are many: helping people in crisis, working to end violence, receiving on-going training and supervision, educating the public about important social issues, assisting a long-standing community organization, and receiving state certification as a Sexual Assault Advocate.
For more information about how you can become a volunteer and received training please contact internship@strengthunited.org
Positions
Strength United offers a variety of volunteer roles. The program is flexible and allows for volunteers to participate when they are available. Volunteers can work in one of our three locations (Northridge, Van Nuys and Santa Clarita), at their home or office, or at one of our events.
Volunteers work in the following roles:
Sexual Assault Advocates answer 24-hour hotline calls from members of the community who have experienced sexual assault and/or child sexual abuse as well as from people who want general information and referrals for assistance; provide accompaniment and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault at forensic medical examinations, court hearings, and police stations; provide follow-up calls for clients; and attend monthly in-services and supervision.
Schedule
Advocates generally work at least one 6.5-hour shift per week. We rotate advocates on shifts so that an advocate will be responsible for responding to phone calls one week, attending accompaniments the next week and would be back up for either role the third week. Generally, we have four people on every 6.5-hour hotline shift.
Requirements
Sexual Assault Advocates are required to complete a 60-hour training program to become State Certified Sexual Assault Advocates.
MFT/MSW Trainees are students in an MFT or MSW program who have not yet graduated and need a site placement. MFT/MSW Interns are individuals who have ALREADY completed their graduate coursework and are looking to intern in order to gain hours for licensure requirements. Trainees and interns see clients on an individual, couple, family or group basis in home and/or in office for BBSE hours; attend in-services and supervision; and take hotline and accompaniment shifts.
MFT/MSW students pre- or post-graduation can receive group supervision and see up to 6 clients per week (trainee) or 10 per week (intern.) Trainees and Interns can work in 4 programs: Family Preservation; Sexual Assault; Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment; and Adoption Promotion & Support Services (must have a background in adoption: have been adopted, have adopted, or have related work experience in adoption.)
Requirements
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a social science, and must have at least six months experience in the field. All selected candidates are required to complete a 40 or 60-hour training program in response to and treatment of child maltreatment, domestic and sexual violence, substance abuse, mandated reporting, discrimination, victim rights, record keeping, family functioning, suicide, crisis intervention, and community resources. All candidates must participate in an interview in which the program openings and candidate fit, based on experience, availability, and personality, are discussed.
Adoption Mentors work with adoptive families and children on core issues related to adoptions. Candidates must have been adopted or be in the process of adopting to qualify as an adoption mentor volunteer.
Prevention Education Advocates assist in providing hundreds of presentations to the community each year to raise awareness about issues regarding interpersonal violence, with a goal of lessening the impact of violence in society by speaking to students, parents, and community groups.
Applications
Strength United is currently looking for volunteers in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. For more information about volunteering, please email internship@strengthunited.org.
To apply, please fill out the appropriate application form below and email it, along with your resume, to internship@strengthunited.org.
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In my heart, I know that I'm right where God wants me to be – helping others and growing from my experiences at Strength United.
- Sheba Shiver, Sexual Assault Advocate
I am so happy that I found Strength United both for the work I do with survivors and the staff I work with. This has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences in my life and I am both privileged and humbled to work with survivors in their time of need.
- Julie Pietroski, Sexual Assault Advocate
Volunteering at Strength United has shaped the person that I am today. Although it has its challenges, the rewards are immeasurable. It has taught me the beauty of reaching out to others and shown me what an effect I can have on another person's life. It has truly been one of the best decisions of my life.
- Nelly Farivar, Sexual Assault Advocate
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Community Group Opportunities
Is your company or community group interested in a local opportunity that will directly impact the community? By hosting a drive, your company can immediately provide much-needed resources to the people in your community who need it most.
If you would like a representative to come to speak to your company or group about Strength United’s mission and vision, and how they fit into that work, or you would like to set up a CSR opportunity, please email ...
Opportunity ideas:
- Backpack Drive with School Supplies
- Court Accompaniment Kit
- Food Drive
- Gift Cards: Local grocery stores, and retailers
- Holiday Season: Adopt a Family program
- Homeless Packs
- New clothing
- Safety Kits
- Survivor Kits
- Family Preservation Kit: Box of Fun
Statement of Nondiscrimination
Strength United does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, selection of volunteers and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.