The Victim Center's Volunteer Victim Advocates in Springfield, Missouri, provide crisis intervention, support, assistance with ex parte orders of protection, referral information, assistance in area hospitals, etc. to victims of violent and sexual crimes and their families in Southwest Missouri, through our 24-hour crisis line. Training is provided. Expectations and duties include a minimum of two to four call time shifts a month; totaling at least 24 hours. Advocates choose their own shifts. Calls are referred to advocates through an answering service - our 24-hour crisis line. Callers will not have access to your personal information.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old, or close to it, have a car, and a phone. Volunteer victim advocates are required to attend training sessions and regular monthly advocate meetings. Meetings are held the second Tuesday night of each month from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Victim advocates provide victims of crime with emotional support, crisis intervention, community resources/referral information, and information about The Victim Center's services. The Victim Center never charges a fee for any of the services provided.

Volunteer Victim Advocates are asked to complete all paperwork required by The Victim Center and submit it to The Victim Center by the next business day. They are required to keep all information confidential. Many services are provided by phone, but advocates may also be called to respond to hospitals and law enforcement agencies. Occasionally, they are called to respond to crime scenes. They act as a liaison between hospital staff and/or law enforcement and crime victims to reduce trauma. Advocates, while legal advice is not given, also assist crime victims with emergency applications for adult and child ex parte orders of protection. There are many procedure protocols in place to protect advocates safety. Training is provided.

Volunteer victim advocate trainings are held approximately three times a year. The next training is scheduled for Friday evening, June 5th, 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 6th, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Applicants need to attend the entire training. Applications and interviews are required beforehand and are underway now. Please contact us ASAP. We need your help!

We have also scheduled an Open House at The Victim Center, 819 Boonville, Springfield, on Saturday, May 16th, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It will be a good time to get to visit with us more about what we do in the community to help crime victims and how our Volunteer Victim Advocates get to serve. Please park in the back and come into the building through the back too.

Please contact Paula Tindell, ptindell@thevictimcenter.org or (417)863-7273, Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., for more information about The Victim Center's Volunteer Victim Advocate Program and for an application packet and a more detailed job description. Background and reference checks will be conducted before acceptance. You may learn more about The Victim Center by going to www.thevictimcenter.org.

The Victim Center's office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. We think you will love this rewarding and worthwhile opportunity to help crime victims and to give back to the community.