On Call After Hours Advocate

Volunteer Description

• Be available to respond to phone calls and calls to emergency rooms, law enforcement interviews, juvenile detention centers, etc. as needed. This includes:
  • Respond to all calls that come in, including the pre-shift check in by SWR staff.
  • All calls can be answered from the comfort of your home. 
  • Stay in contact with your staff back-up throughout your shift for case debriefing, answering questions, assistance, and to make sure they are aware of the cases you are working on.
  • Contact the office for a post-shift check-in to make sure all case information is turned into the office for us to follow-up with clients by 9 am the following day.
  • Contact office when personal contact information changes.
  • Travel to hospitals in Itasca county when needed. *Grand Itasca, Deer River, Bigfork. 
  • A cellular device is required to answer crisis calls.

Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of clients and advocates
• Respond to clients in a professional and supportive manner
• Comply with SWR’s philosophy, purposes, procedures, and policies
• Adhere to reporting requirements for clients

Time Committment 

• Crisis advocate volunteers take a minimum of 2 shifts per month (or equivalent to 30 hours per month).
• In addition, volunteers take at least one weekend shift at least once every 4 months and one holiday per year.
• Shifts are 15, 20, and 24 hours increments.
• Shifts are done from home, but travel is required to attend to survivors at the hospital.  

Apply

• Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for your area for an application. For Itasca county, call 218-326-5008. 
• Complete a 40-hour Online training and successfully pass a background check is required for most volunteer positions.