For more information about becoming a hotline advocate, contact Lindsay DeCaire at 216-619-6194 ext. 119 or lindsayd@cleveland.org 

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center provides survivors of sexual assault with Advocacy services available 24-hours a day. Face to Face Advocates respond to emergency departments and police stations in Cuyahoga County to provide survivors and their friends or family members with information, support, resources and advocacy and to facilitate communication with law enforcement, medical professionals and others.

As a Volunteer F2F Advocate, you will: 

• Respond to emergency departments and police stations in Cuyahoga County to provide crisis intervention, support, education and advocacy to survivors and their supportive others
• Facilitate interactions between survivors and medical staff, law enforcement and victim services professionals
• Ensure survivors’ right to access healthcare, criminal justice and social services
• Educate survivors on her/his choices, options and services
• Believe each survivor and, with survivor consent, stay for all or part of the medical examination depending on the comfort level of the survivor
• Provide information and referrals regarding CRCC Therapeutic Services and Justice System Advocacy, post-assault healthcare, and community-based social services
• Secure reliable transportation for advocacy shifts
• Provide the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center with at least 24 hours of advocacy each month for a minimum of 1 year  

Prospective Face to Face Advocates are asked to complete an application (either on-line or an application can be mailed to you).  Face to Face Applicants will be contacted by the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to schedule an interview. This interview will provide further information about the CRCC and our training as well as provide staff with the opportunity to answer any questions. Both the application and interview must be completed before an individual begins training.

Face to Face Training

Our standard face to face advocacy training is required for everyone interested in being a face to face advocate. No experience is necessary.  We will provide you with the skills and experience you'll need to successfully fulfill your role as a CRCC Advocate.

F2F Training will educate you on the following topics:

• CRCC Services  & Programs
• Rape Myths & Facts
• Domestic Violence
• Listening Skills
• Reactions To Trauma
• Medical Exam
• Simulated Exam & Explanation of the Rape Kit
• Secondary Survivors
• Special Populations
• Mental Illness
• Justice System Advocacy
• Vicarious Trauma

Additional training opportunities are available to volunteers once the 40 hours of training so that they can continue learn and grow as advocates.
 

Training Registration

Interested applicants are asked to complete an application which can be mailed or you may submit an on-line application.

Applicants will be contacted by CRCC to schedule an interview. This interview will provide further information about the CRCC and our training as well as provide staff with the opportunity to answer any questions.  Both the application and interview must be completed before an individual begins training.
 

Current Training Schedule

Spring 2012 training is scheduled for June 2012. There will be an additional training in Fall 2012.  For more information, please fill out an application and exact dates will be sent to you.

When: Two evenings a week from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. for a total of 5 weeks

Where: Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, 526 Superior Avenue, #1400, Cleveland 44114