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 the community with a 24-Hour Hotline which receives over 3,000 calls each year. Calls are made by survivors of sexual assault, their friends or family members, area professionals, law enforcement, social workers and many others. Hotline Advocates answer these calls to provide these individuals with support, information and referrals and crisis intervention.

This Hotline utilizes a call-forwarding system that allows volunteers to take shifts and respond to calls from their home.  As a Hotline Advocate, you will:

• Speak with survivors of sexual assault, their friends and family members, professionals in the community, law enforcement, social workers, etc.
• Listen to, believe, and support every survivor
• Educate survivors on her/his options, rights, and services
• Provide information and referrals regarding CRCC Therapeutic Services and Justice System Advocacy, post-assault healthcare, and community-based social services   
• Handle requests from hospitals and police stations as survivors request Face to Face (F2F) Advocates
• Be responsible for maintaining a reliable phone
• Provide the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center with at least 20 hours of advocacy each month for a minimum of 1 year  

Prospective Hotline Advocates are asked to complete an application (either on-line or an application can be mailed to you).  Hotline 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.

Hotline Training

Our standard hotline training is required for everyone interested in being a hotline 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.  The training will cover topics such as:

• Rape Awareness
• Listening Skills
• Counseling/Crisis Intervention
• The Legal Process
• Suicide and Homicide / Mental Health Issues
• Oppression Awareness
• Child and Youth Sexual Assault
• Adult Sexual Assault
• Secondary Survivors
• Hospital Advocacy
• History, Policy and Procedures of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

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 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.

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