How to Volunteer at a Domestic Violence Shelter

Preparing to Volunteer

Embrace your skill set. Are you good with people, especially children? Have an excellent phone presence? Great at raising funds? Excellent in an office setting, or in the field? Have extensive experience with a different volunteer job? All of these skills are greatly needed at the shelters, and you can choose what you'd like to do as a volunteer. Do expect, though, to be crossed trained in all aspects of volunteering to assist survivors of domestic violence and their loved ones.

Be prepared to respect confidentiality. Once you learn the location of the shelter you cannot disclose it to anyone, not even friends or family. It's one of those secrets that must remain with you for the safety of those that are being protected. If anyone discovers its location, the people being protected have been compromised and put in danger.

Consider working with kids. There are many children at the shelters. If you are interested in working with them, you will be trained in how to behave with children who have seen and/or experienced abuse. Many of the children suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and have to be treated accordingly. They are not in their homes and will often rebel against their mothers while in the shelter, primarily out of resentment and fear. Your job will be to provide them with distractions, such as recreational activities, playtime, arts and crafts, reading them books and even going on field trips.

Look into remote options, if desired. If you don't want to leave your home because you still have young children or it just isn't convenient, consider answering a hotline. Then you only work when someone calls, but you are providing an invaluable service to those in need. You will be trained in how to provide advice and advocacy over the phone; you will not be expected to answer it without first training for all contingencies.

Get ready for some intense training. You'll likely be cross-trained to provide crisis intervention, education, practical assistance and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse who are either at the shelter, or on the phone. If you decide you're interested in Crisis Response, plan on additional training, since you will be going to the courts, jails, hospitals and anywhere else a survivor may need assistance. Often there is a 30 day program for new volunteers. That may sound like a lot but there is a lot to cover and it's very important you are as knowledgeable as possible. Use some of the training you receive in other parts of your life, such as public speaking, or dealing with different types of people while you are out. The skills you will master are very versatile and you will be surprised at how often you will find yourself using them.

Volunteering

Keep privacy as you number one concern. Never give out specific information about anyone that has been in the shelter or helped by the shelter no matter who they say they are. All of the information must remain confidential. Lives depend on it.

Don't worry if you make mistakes at first. As long as you don't break anyone's confidentiality or the confidentiality of the shelter everything else can be fixed. You can work on your weaker skills and improve them easily, no one is perfect when they are just starting something new.

Take care of yourself, too. Understand that volunteering to assist with survivors can be sometimes be emotionally overwhelming and draining. This is normal, everyone who works with, or volunteers to, help other people has felt this way at some time. Be sure to take good care of yourself when you feel drained or overwhelmed. Take a walk, a hot bath, buy yourself something special or just relax at home.

Don't be afraid to seek out opportunities that suit you. Sure, you're volunteering, but you can do so in a way that's a win-win for both you and the program participants. You won't "connect" with everyone. And that's ok. Volunteering is no different than regular life, you like some people more than others. If there is someone you simply cannot work with request a different shift, or have a different volunteer work with those people. This should be an enjoyable experience for you, not one to dislike.

Embrace the mission. Shelters are not scary places. They are safe havens for many survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and without volunteers they would not exist. If you've every considered volunteering for a shelter please call your local hotline; they can refer you to the correct people to speak to about donating your time and energy.