Website: http://stopdvsa.org/
Mission: Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) is a nonprofit organization that has served victims of abuse since 1997.
Location: Grinnell Advocates (but based in Oskaloosa)
Needs: Volunteer Opportunities can often include supportive services, transportation, outreach, fundraising initiatives, and many other outstanding options. Volunteer Opportunities may include:
- Hotline
- Phone support
- Housing Advocacy
- Transportation
- Fundraising
- Community Engagement
Volunteers: needed on an on-going basis
When is service needed: Volunteer advocates must attend mandatory training that includes the successful completion of assignments and role-plays. In addition, we ask that you commit to volunteering for at least one year and be available for a minimum of 1 shift per month (at least 4 hours in length).
Number of hours:
Modality:
- In-person: yes
- Hybrid in-person/virtual possible: yes
- Fully virtual possible: yes
Prerequisites: Working with domestic and sexual abuse victims/survivors is a wonderful opportunity and a great responsibility. It is important that you commit to creating a respectful, accepting, and inclusive environment.
We ask that all volunteer applicants:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Commit to following CIS’s confidentiality policy
- If interested in being an on-call response volunteer, reside or be able to respond within 60 minutes to a crisis incident
- Consent in writing to a criminal background check. (You will be disqualified if you have an assault on your record)
- Commit to training (approximately 30 hours – 24 online and 6 in-person)
- Be mentally and emotionally prepared to discuss sensitive topics
- Demonstrate respectful and highly effective communication skills
- Demonstrate acceptance of diverse lifestyles, values, and opinions
- Refrain from judging others’ choices
- Understand and adapt to a non-blaming, non-directive, survivor-centered model of counseling
Background check required: yes
Training supplied: Victim Counselor training is provided through an online education program and is required for volunteers who wish to work directly with clients. CIS provides in-depth training to equip volunteers with the tools they need to succeed. If you’re interested in becoming a direct volunteer, application and training are required for certification. The training explores the healing process and how domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, stalking, and harassment impact survivors and those they love. We also focus on crisis intervention skills, cross-cultural counseling skills, and helping survivors navigate the medical and legal systems.
Equipment or logistics supplied:
- Crisis Line Volunteer Advocates: You can use your own phone or be provided with a cell phone so you can volunteer from home. We require that you be in a quiet, private location during calls.
- In-person Volunteer Advocates: Must be able to respond within 60 minutes to the location of advocacy. Locations include any medical facility within our 12 counties. All advocates are required to communicate effectively with those using CIS’s services and keep accurate records of the caller and in-person interactions.
How to apply: At the website: https://stopdvsa.org/volunteer/
Contact: 641-673-0336, patf@stopdvsa.org
Operation information: We are supported by local, state and federal grants and donations from individuals, organizations and corporations in our community. Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) provides support and empowerment to victims/survivors of domestic and dating violence and/or sexual assault in Appanoose, Davis, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Poweshiek, Wapello and Wayne counties in Iowa. In addition to victim services, CIS provides prevention education and programming. We recognize that to be successful, community involvement and awareness are essential and actively work to engage partners in supporting survivors and ending violence. Recently, CIS has formed partnerships with area schools to provide educational and leadership opportunities to students through a program called Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP).
Address: Grinnell Advocates (but based in Oskaloosa)
If you are with this organization and need to update your listing, please access our update form on this page: For Community Partners