SOUTH PARIS — The Sexual Assault Crisis Center is partnering with the Rape Education and Crisis Hotline to offer a regional training for individuals interested in making a difference in the lives of victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse. REACH is dedicated to educating communities in Oxford County and the towns of Harrison and Bridgton and SACC serves the people of Androscoggin County. The centers are currently seeking women and men interested in becoming volunteer advocates.

Volunteers are needed to listen and provide support, information, referrals and accompaniment to callers from the 24-hour crisis and support line. Training will be offered soon in a central location to accommodate volunteers traveling from the various areas supported by the two centers. Classes will be available on nights and weekends.

Volunteer advocates must be over the age of 18, empathetic and dependable with access to reliable transportation and complete a screening process including criminal and Department of Health and Human Services background checks. No experience is necessary.

Volunteers will receive extensive training and support to prepare them for effectively responding to callers. The training provides insight and information in the areas of sexual harassment, stalking, child sexual abuse, sexual assault and the challenges faced by survivors and their supporters. Volunteers are taught the various options and resources available for survivors of all ages in our communities and learn crisis intervention and advocacy skills through training and role-play scenarios with special emphasis placed on the importance of self-care.

Volunteer advocates carry a pager during their on-call shifts, allowing them to be on call from their homes and choose from a variety of scheduling options. A call can require supporting someone through a difficult memory of childhood sexual abuse, providing support and education about available resources, or accompanying a caller to a local hospital, police station or courthouse for those survivors choosing to use these resources.

A new training session is scheduled to begin in mid-August or beginning of September. To learn more about becoming a volunteer advocate, contact Janet at REACH 743-9777, ext. 2 if you reside in Oxford County, Bridgton or Harrison. Contact Sarah at the Sexual Assault Crisis Center office at 784-5272, ext. 104 if you reside in Androscoggin County.