'It takes a special kind of person' 'It takes a special kind of person' (February 03, 2006)

Tri-Valley Haven volunteers will do anything to help those in need
by Rebecca Guyon

"I hear about domestic violence and sexual assault often on the news, and I feel that volunteering is one way I can contribute to helping, even if I am only one person," said Pleasanton resident Marie R., a volunteer for Tri-Valley Haven. As the only domestic violence shelter in the Tri-Valley, the Haven provides Pleasanton and other Tri-Valley cities with much needed resources for women in need. The Haven offers many services and resources for people who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault--and it couldn't do it without the help of many dedicated volunteers.

While there are many people who help out at the Haven for special fundraisers or events, there is a core of 120 volunteers who run the Haven's direct services as sexual assault advocates, crisis line operators and legal assistants, as well as provide child care during parenting classes and run the food pantry. Each direct service task can be challenging due to the time commitment and emotional stress, but, despite the challenges, these volunteers keep on serving because they feel passionate about helping and see the need in the community.

"When I was on my first shift I think every time the phone rang I had a nervous feeling," Marie (for confidentiality reasons the Haven does not publish the last names of volunteers) said, "but you just do what you can when someone needs support and I don't feel I could say no to helping just because my heart is beating fast."

When sexual assault advocates sign up for a volunteer shift, they are on-call for three and half days straight, meaning if a sexual assault survivor arrives at the ValleyCare emergency room, the advocate is called--day or night--and arrives at the hospital within 30 minutes. The main role of the advocate is to provide support as the client goes through the process of speaking with police officers and getting a medical exam, as well as a separate exam for sexual assault survivors. The whole process can last up to three hours.

"It is one of the most crucial pieces for how we provide services because it is the first contact we have with survivors," said Jenny Fraiser, coordinator of volunteer affairs for the Haven.
Want to volunteer?

Many people who volunteer as a sexual assault advocate also help run the crisis line, answering questions and providing comfort over the phone. Haven staff run the crisis line during the afternoon, but volunteers cover the over- night and morning shifts. The legal clinic, which holds sessions twice a week in Pleasanton and Livermore, is also covered by volunteers.

Before someone can even volunteer for direct services, they must go through 65 hours of training, which the Haven provides through a three-month class that meets once a week on Tuesdays. Volunteers are trained how to handle phone calls on the crisis line and help survivors in the ER, but beyond techniques, they also learn about signs and behaviors of abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence laws and crisis intervention, as well as receive cultural sensitivity training.

There are two volunteer trainings each year, one in February and another in July, and the Haven just started the latest training class. The winter classes tend to be larger, Fraiser said, and can average from 15-20 students with about 75 percent completing the training and becoming volunteers.

"A lot start in the training and then taper off because they're compassionate and have their hearts in the right place, but they don't have the time to give, or it's too emotional for them," Fraiser said. "But they find other ways to volunteer, just not directly with clients."

Most Haven volunteers serve for three to four years, but there are some "veteran volunteers" who have been working at the Haven between eight to 12 years.

"It takes a special person to stay on that long and we are very grateful for them," Fraiser said.

Even with the new training class, the Haven is always looking for more people to volunteer. When there are not enough volunteers to fill in the shifts, the staff covers them--in addition to working their normal work week. Recently, the Haven has had a shortage of sexual assault advocates, but Fraiser said they've been focusing on getting more volunteers involved in that role.

"My first call was humbling, but I realized it is not my job to give answers, but more do the best I can to be present and there for her," Marie said. "Also informing the survivor of resources and options is really the most important thing so she can make the best decisions for her. The most rewarding part of the experience for me is giving the survivor back some control over her life through validating what has happened to her, letting her know it's not her fault, informing of her resources and rights, and protecting those rights."
More information

To volunteer, call Jenny Fraiser, coordinator of volunteer affairs at the Tri-Valley Haven, at 449-5845, ext. 111 or e-mail jenny@trivalleyhaven.org.

Before enrolling in the training class, all potential volunteers will be interviewed. Volunteers for the sexual assault advocate position and the crisis line must be women 21 years old or older.

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