Volunteers: Register NOW for NOVA's fall crisis training

If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in giving back to your community: Network of Victim Assistance has opened registration for its upcoming free training for volunteers on the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline it operates. To register, please call Julie Dugery, Coordinator of Volunteers and Community Outreach, at 215.343.6543, or email JulieD@NOVABucks.org.

The 2-week, 45-hour specialized training qualifies participants to volunteer, answering crisis calls on the hotline and providing a profoundly important service to victims of sexual assault, stalking, physical abuse, elder abuse and other serious crimes in Bucks County. Crisis Hotline volunteers take calls during evening and weekend hours; flexible shifts of 2, 4 or 6 hours per week are available.

The comprehensive training in crisis counseling, presented free of charge by NOVA professionals, not only provides volunteers with the skills and information to appropriately respond to hotline calls – just as significant are the skills learned that allow volunteers to support victims during emergency room visits or police interviews.

While the next training session begins September 8, volunteers must register in advance so NOVA staff members have time to process each registrant. The training is offered at NOVA’s Jamison office with daytime classes held 9:30am–2:30pm on Tuesday through Friday for just two weeks.

For more information on this training and other volunteer opportunities with NOVA, please call Julie Dugery, Coordinator of Volunteers and Community Outreach, at 215.343.6543, or email JulieD@NOVABucks.org or go to www.NOVABucks.org.