Womancare volunteer helpline training

By Ginger Hutchins
Womancare Volunteer Program Coordinator

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Womancare’s mission is “to support and empower anyone affected by domestic abuse while engaging the community in the elimination of domestic abuse through education and the promotion of social change.”  We need your help in fulfilling this mission. 

    Volunteers are central to our work. We couldn’t provide the services we do without you. If you’re willing to give us some of your time and talents, we need you. Would you like to become a more integral part of your community? Do you feel like you’d like to give something back to your community? Do you need to test the field for a future career, to build a resume or to build skills important to a future employer? 
    At Womancare, no matter when the phone rings, a helpline worker is there, ready to listen, offer support, and provide information and referrals to other needed services. As a helpline worker, one of the things you’ll do is assist in providing our core service; answering calls that come in to our 24 hour helpline.  Although it’s not easy, answering the helpline is one of the most rewarding jobs we do. You are often the first contact someone affected by abuse has with our organization, and often the first voice someone hears as he or she reaches out for help. 
    Our volunteer direct service workers complete a training of about 40 hours of class room instruction.  The training is designed to prepare folks to talk with those needing services on the phone, or to meet with them in person at our office, at one of our outreach locations, or at court when accompanying them to a hearing. Advocates support and validate a caller’s feelings, identify and explore options, make referrals, and assist with safety planning. 
    Training topic include dynamics of domestic abuse, elder abuse, effects of family violence on children, relevant legal and social issues, safety planning and crisis intervention. Upon successful completion of the training four CEU’s will be available from the University of Maine. The training is offered free of charge with the expectation of a volunteer commitment.
    Our next training will begin Sept. 16 and meet every Monday and Wednesday for six weeks from 4-7 p.m. at Womancare here in Dover-Foxcroft (8 Mechanic Street). Please call 564-8165, e-mail ginger@wmncare.org  or call PVAEC at 564-6525 for more information or to register.