Union County Rape Crisis Center

The Union County Rape Crisis Center is looking for dedicated individuals who are interested in helping survivors of sexual violence. A state mandated training will be offered April 24, 2012 - June 19, 2012 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. in Westfied, NJ.

What is Required to be a Confidential Sexual Violence Volunteer/Advocate?

• Resident of Union County

• 18 years of age or older

• Valid U.S. driver’s license

• Personal (own) means of transportation (i.e. a car)

• Informal interview (during business hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

• Successful completion of sixty-three (63) hours of state-mandated Advocate training.

• Successful completion of state certification requirements.

• Commitment to volunteer for a period of at least one year.

• Commitment to at least three hotline shifts per month.

• Regular attendance at monthly volunteer meetings.

If you meet these requirements and are interested in becoming a Volunteer Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate, please phone us at (908) 233-7273 or email rcc@ucnj.org.

Featured Advocate

Anna J

When I lost my job in 2006, I returned to school to finish my BA. After graduating, I was still jobless and in need of experience in my new field. I wanted to fuse together my values, skills, and knowledge.

I volunteered to become a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate at the Union County Rape Crisis Center (UCRCC), having no idea how much I would gain from making this commitment. First, there was the outstanding training, which eased my concerns about how to be present for survivors and left me confident that I could do it. From my first call, I realized I was not only providing support and information at the time of crisis, but helping survivors release fear and trauma so that the experience of sexual assault would not haunt them.

Next, my service as an advocate had a huge benefit for me personally – I become part of a family of diverse and dedicated volunteers who do nothing less than inspire me. At UCRCC, a volunteer has ongoing support whenever needed, not only from the talented staff, but from each other.

In many places in the world, victims of sexual assault are still stoned, brides are burnt for their dowries, and more human slaves are trafficked than ever in human history. As a Confidential Sexual Violence Advocate, I stake myself to make peace and justice possible, simply by my commitment to be present for the survivor.

I feel so blessed to live in a county where victims of sexual trauma are treated with respect and have their particular needs addressed with sensitivity. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team that provides this care.

EDUCATION

The Center's mission is to implement primary prevention throughout Union County. The Green Dot Bystander Intervention strategy is currently being used to achieve this goal.

The focus of the Green Dot strategy is to change the attitudes and behaviors that lead to violence by training individuals to become proactive bystanders. A Green Dot is any behavior, choice, word, or attitude that promotes safety and discourages violence.

The Green Dot strategy is based on the belief that no one has to do everything but everyone has to do something. It capitalizes on the power of peer and cultural influence. It strives to connect students to the issue of violence prevention and helps them to believe that they play a necessary part in addressing it.

The Green Dot Network of Union County is a coalition which meets to support, sustain, and expand local Green Dot efforts. The hope is that by implementing Green Dot in the Union County community, acts of violence will be greatly reduced.

The Center is not only utilizing the Green Dot strategy to implement prevention messaging but it is also using Media Literacy.

Media Literacy is a strategy which teaches students to develop critical thinking skills which in turn help them navigate the negative dimensions of popular culture. Students analyze and evaluate how media shapes gender roles and impacts self image and relationships.

As a Center, we are excited about both of these new community education endeavors. If you are interested in learning more, please do not hesitate to contact us at (908) 233-7273.

Union County Rape Crisis Center

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