About SafePlace

SafePlace exists to end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change. We envision a community free of rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence.

• Safety
  We do this through our emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline, hospital accompaniment programs and legal services.
• Healing
  We do this with extensive counseling services for children, teens and adults as well as providing transitional housing, advocacy and life skills training to give people the resources and skills to stay safe.
• Prevention
  Our disability services, school-based services and community education work are all focused on preventing violence and promoting safe and healthy relationships.
• Social Change
  Working with others, we promote alternatives to the attitudes, behaviors and policies that perpetuate the acceptance of interpersonal violence, especially violence against women.

Volunteering With SafePlace

Staff and volunteers alike represent SafePlace, so we believe it is important to empower each volunteer with a greater understanding of the issues surrounding sexual and domestic violence. SafePlace is dedicated to preparing volunteers with the knowledge they require to become an integral part of the solution to end violence. Our hope is that volunteers benefit as much from their experience as SafePlace benefits from the volunteers who give back to the agency and the people we serve.

Prospective Volunteers

Prospective volunteers must complete the following steps before being matched with any volunteer position:

• Attend Volunteer Orientation
• Complete an Application and Background Check
• Attend the 40-Hour General Volunteer Training
• Interview with the Volunteer Department to determine position
• Attend Program-Specific Training if necessary

Orientations are held the last Tuesday of each month, except in November. For 2007, that means November 13th is the next orientation. To attend orientation please email Volunteer Services.

Volunteer Opportunities

• CLERICAL VOLUNTEER (40 hour training not required)
  Help SafePlace programs with copying, mailing, filing, organizing, updating databases and other office projects. Weekday, daytime hours only.
• GROVE PLACE MEAL PREPARATION VOLUNTEER (40 hour training not required)
  Needed for meal preparation/delivery for approximately 25 adults and children. May volunteer on a limited basis.
• GROVE PLACE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTOR
  Distributor volunteers will deliver the Grove Place Community newsletter to each of the 184 Grove Place apartment units on a monthly basis.
• GROVE PLACE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMPUTER CLASS INSTRUCTOR/INDIVIDUAL TUTOR
  Teach basic computer skills to adults (introduction to PCs, typing and the keyboard, word processing and the internet) to small classes of 2-5 students, assess the students and monitor their progress. Classes are usually held weekday afternoon or evenings for one to two hours at a time. Also, individual instruction is needed and schedule times may vary. Bilingual English-Spanish-speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.
• GROVE PLACE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER DESIGNER
  Design newsletter layout in Microsoft Publisher or Word, Version 2003. It is a one page newsletter in English and a one page newsletter in Spanish. After designing the layout, give a quick tutorial to the supervisor on changing images and text for future publications. One time project.

For more Non-Direct Volunteer Opportunities, click here.

• COMMUNITY EDUCATION FAIR REPRESENTATIVE
  Educate the public by setting up and staffing SafePlace information booths at health fairs and festivals. Typically 2 3 hour shifts.
• COMMUNITY EDUCATION SPEAKERS BUREAU VOLUNTEER
  Educate the public by making presentations about SafePlace Services, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Presentation times can range from 15 minutes to 1 hour.
• GROVE PLACE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS
  The Grove Place Community Services Program offers Grove Place Apartments residents support with limited financial assistance, information and referral services and self-sufficiency support through programs such as life skills classes in a group setting as well as individual support.
• HOTLINE/FAMILY SHELTER ADVOCATE
  Work at the Shelter with the primary responsibility of answering our 24-hour crisis hotline. Volunteers provide peer counseling, crisis intervention and information and referrals to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, their friends and family on the hotline. Volunteers must first complete 3 months active volunteering in the House Support program prior to becoming a hotline volunteer. Additional duties will include conducting shelter intakes and general client assistance. Shifts are available 7 days a week from 8am-12pm, volunteers are needed most M-F 6pm-midnight. You may choose to work two or four hour shifts.

For more Direct Service Volunteer Opportunities, click here.

Organized groups do not need to attend orientation or training, but are asked to email Volunteer Services to determine a suitable activity for the group.

Contact:

Christine Langa
Volunteer Services Manager
Direct (512) 356-1561
Fax (512) 385-0662
Email

For more information about SafePlace, the services we provide and how to get help, please use one of the following ways to contact us.

24-Hour Hotline:
Please call the hotline if you are seeking help. Do not send an email. Computer and email can be monitored and tracked. 267-SAFE or 927-9616 TTY for the Deaf community.

— Hawk Mendenhall