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PAVSA is seeking volunteers to maintain our 24-hour advocacy services. We are dedicated to the elimination of sexual violence in southern Saint Louis County through supporting victims, educating the community, and advocating for change. Our volunteers are critical to supporting victim-survivors in our community. They assist with facilitating our helpline and provide advocacy in the hospital setting during overnight and weekend hours.
Volunteering with PAVSA is a great way to get involved in the community, cultivate your crisis intervention and de-escalation skills, and build knowledge of local resources. In accordance with the State of Minnesota, Statute 595.02, all volunteers must complete a 40-hour Sexual Assault Advocacy Training. PAVSA provides this training at no cost to you and will equip you with the skills you need to be a great advocate!
Right now, we are most in need of hospital volunteers.
Hospital volunteers are individuals who go to our local hospitals to provide comfort and advocacy when a survivor seeks care there after a sexual assault. Hospital advocates are accompanied by SANEs (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) - nurses with specialized training in responding to sexual assaults.
Helpline volunteers are individuals who talk with survivors on our 24-hour helpline after office hours. They provide validation, support, and resources to survivors over the phone. Helpline volunteers are supported by a "staff backup," a PAVSA staff who is also on call and available to answer questions as they come up.
Volunteering with PAVSA is a great way to get involved in the community, cultivate your crisis intervention and de-escalation skills, and build knowledge of local resources. In accordance with the State of Minnesota, Statute 595.02, all volunteers must complete a 40-hour Sexual Assault Advocacy Training. PAVSA provides this training at no cost to you and will equip you with the skills you need to be a great advocate!
Right now, we are most in need of hospital volunteers.
Hospital volunteers are individuals who go to our local hospitals to provide comfort and advocacy when a survivor seeks care there after a sexual assault. Hospital advocates are accompanied by SANEs (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) - nurses with specialized training in responding to sexual assaults.
Helpline volunteers are individuals who talk with survivors on our 24-hour helpline after office hours. They provide validation, support, and resources to survivors over the phone. Helpline volunteers are supported by a "staff backup," a PAVSA staff who is also on call and available to answer questions as they come up.
Upcoming Training
Completing PAVSA's 40-Hour Training is required to volunteer, but it extends beyond PAVSA. It looks great on a resume, and can open up opportunities for further work in the nonprofit field. Completing the training now can also be great if you're considering interning at PAVSA in the future. Throughout training we cover a variety of topics such as active listening, harm reduction, crisis de-escalation, and more.
Our next training is scheduled for Fall 2025
Following an in person interview, training will be help via Zoom with midway check ins, hospital tours, and a hybrid final session. Sessions will be held September 2nd through October 2nd, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 4 to 7pm.
Requirements
All PAVSA volunteers need access to a working phone, technology to access Zoom for training, availability to be on call during evening and weekend hours, and for hospital volunteers, reliable transportation.
For more information contact our Volunteer Coordinator Amanda at amanda@pavsa.org or complete our volunteer interest form here: https://forms.gle/RiBTjmkV8v5gocm7A
For more information contact our Volunteer Coordinator Amanda at amanda@pavsa.org or complete our volunteer interest form here: https://forms.gle/RiBTjmkV8v5gocm7A
