The Victims Assistance Center will provide free trainings on the topics of domestic/family violence and/or sexual assault to any allied professional or human services agency.
It may also be possible for the Agency to set up and staff an informational table at events such as health and/or career fairs.
If you would like to provide your staff or students with a better understanding of the services the Victims Assistance Center provides, it may be possible for us to arrange a presentation to your agency, office, or classroom.
Currently our Community Education/Prevention Specialist provides trainings in several Jefferson County schools covering topics such as Teen Dating Violence and Bullying.
Our agency is the designated victims assistance program for Jefferson County, NY. Our program is licensed by NYS Office of Children and Family Services as well as NYS Department of Health.
Twice yearly the Victims Assistance Center provides a 40-hour training program for all new staff, volunteers, and interns at the Agency. This training covers a wide range of topics that enable individuals to effectively provide the services needed by those in the community who have been affected by any crime, including family/domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
While the training is geared to those who will be working within our agency, it is open to any individual who may be interested in learning more about victim services.
Upon successful completion of the 40-hour training program, individuals will be approved by the New York State Department of Health as Rape Crisis Advocates.
Volunteers are the backbone of any human service agency and they play a crucial role for the Victims Assistance Center. Our Agency and community is enhanced by the services and empathy a volunteer provides through advocacy and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We value and appreciate all of the time, talent, and creativity that volunteers give to our agency and our clients.
Serving as a volunteer involves responding to crisis calls and assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or homeless women and children. This may include transporting clients to shelter, accompanying them to the hospital or police station, advocating for them, or just being present to provide emotional support in a time of crisis.
Our volunteers are frequently the first person to come into contact with a victim and can leave the client with a positive impression of our services that will be remembered when the decision is finally made to leave an unsafe situation for good.
Opportunities for internships are provided to those students completing coursework in the fields of criminal justice, social/behavioral sciences and/or crisis intervention.
Student interns will have the opportunity to observe and assist staff in the provision of the following Agency services:
- Rape Crisis Services
- Crisis Intervention Services
- Safe Shelter
- Legal Advocacy
- Community Education
- Office Responsibilities
