Volunteer for BAWAR

To volunteer for the Latinx Program click here

Para aplicar para ser voluntario para el programa Latinx haga click aqui.

From our volunteers:

“Volunteering is the act of showing up and being the calming voice at the other end of the line; You are someone who is truly present and there to listen, who offers hope and support, and has the privilege of being a part of another’s healing. It profoundly changes your own experience within the world, as well as others.” -J.M. 

“Especially in these turbulent, violent times, it feels good to connect to someone in a positive, real way, and to feel like you may have helped someone with their healing.” -A.R.

“Being able to show up for survivors and hold space for their trauma is amazing and extremely healing.” – L.R. 

What do volunteers do for BAWAR?
Volunteers work with BAWAR in various capacities, depending on their interests, availability, and skills. Volunteers who become California State Certified Sexual Assault Counselors help staff our 24-hour sexual assault crisis line, which is available to all survivors of sexual assault and their support persons. Our counselors also provide accompaniment services to Highland Hospital, Washington Hospital and local police departments. Additional volunteer opportunities include: office support, fundraising, technical assistance, and community outreach.

Who Can Apply to Be a Sexual Assault Counselor?
It is not necessary for you to have prior counseling experience or any particular licenses or degrees. Thorough preparation is provided during the training. Our current volunteer pool includes people from all walks of life and personal backgrounds, who share a deep commitment to supporting survivors and working to end sexual violence. We accept people of all genders in the counselor training, however we do require you to be over 18 to volunteer. We encourage survivors of sexual violence and assault to apply for our volunteer program, and we ask that applicants are in a place to support others through their process. If you have been or are currently a client of BAWAR, we ask that you wait a minimum of one year before applying to be a Sexual Assault Counselor.

What’s the Training Like?
Our next training will take place in Oakland from June 16th – August 27th for eleven (11) weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm-9pm. Due to Shelter in Place we will be offering this training via zoom. Training covers a wide variety of topics, including: myths and realities of sexual violence, oppression, trauma and trauma response, counseling skills, advocacy, intersections of gender/race/class/orientation/ability/documentation, hospital accompaniment procedures, and role plays. Successful graduates of the BAWAR training receive a California State Certification in Sexual Assault Counseling (you must be able to attend all sessions).

The only cost for potential BAWAR volunteers in this training is a sliding scale $50-$100 non-refundable fee for materials (payment plans are available). Participants who complete the training successfully may be offered a volunteer hotline advocate and/or SART (accompaniment) advocate position, although it is not guaranteed. If you are looking to take the training for professional development and certification without the volunteer commitment, the charge for the training is $350. ***Potential volunteers are prioritized for spaces in this training.

Upcoming Training Dates:

Summer 2020 – June 16th -August 27th via zoom

Application deadline: June 9th
Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm-9pm (6hrs/week)

***If a training night lands on a federally recognized holiday, then we will not meet for that day (i.e. 4th of July and Thanksgiving).

What Happens After The Training?
In exchange for the 66-hour training and certification, we require a commitment to volunteer for BAWAR for 36 hours of on-call time each month, for a period of 9 months or the equivalent of 324 hours. (your commitment begins the month after your successful completion of the training). This means that during those 36 on-call hours you will be available to take crisis line calls or meet a survivor at the hospital/police station. Our 24/7 services allow for the flexibility to sign up for shifts that fit into your schedule.

***We are in need of dedicated and flexible volunteers located in Alameda County with access to reliable transportation, and availability on nights/overnights and weekends for in-person accompaniment services.

I’m Interested, What Can I Do Next?
If you are interested in the BAWAR training, please fill out our online Volunteer Application. Once your application is submitted, BAWAR will reach out to you before the start of the next training cycle. We have an interview process that takes place about one month before the start of training, and submitting an application does not guarantee a spot in the training.