Abuse Hotline Needs Volunteers

DANBURY — One in four women will be the victim of sexual assault during her lifetime. One in six males will be sexually assaulted. Physical abuse will occur at least once in two-thirds of all relationships; 25 percent of teen relationships include abuse.

To counter these statistics, the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury is looking for volunteers for its fall domestic violence-sexual assault hotline training.

The agency is now screening volunteers for this sexual assault crisis intervention hotline. Those who are accepted will undergo a 40-hour training class that will be held on October 6, 11, 17, 25, 27, and November 2, 5, 7, 9 and 21. Evening classes are 5:30 to 9 pm while Saturday sessions run from 9 am to 2:30 pm. Bilingual and male candidates are encouraged to apply.

This training will qualify the volunteer to do crisis intervention counseling, which is a hotline position that can be done on-site during business hours or, after business hours, from the volunteer’s home. It is also a prerequisite for specialized positions such as peer counseling, court advocacy, group facilitation, and shelter advocacy. Day and evening child care and other noncounseling positions such as fundraising, clerical support, and writing are also available and require only a five-hour orientation.

During the 2004-05 fiscal year, 34 volunteers provided education to 19,053 adults and children in the greater Danbury area. The total includes 1,555 persons in Newtown who received services, compared to 409 persons two years ago.

For more information call 731-5200, extension 200.