It takes volunteers – WOAR was born out of volunteerism.
*Must be 18 or older to apply*
Your help is vital to WOAR’s operations. Many survivors seek our therapy services after speaking with one of our volunteers, so please consider joining our volunteer support team.
Become An Advocate
Volunteer on WOAR’s 24/7 crisis hotline or at the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center
It Takes a Volunteer
WOAR was born through the efforts of volunteers. Join our volunteer support team!
WOAR holds three sessions annually to receive 45+ hours of training to become a certified Sexual Assault Counselor in Pennsylvania. This training will prepare you to provide crucial support to individuals who have experienced sexual violence as well as advocate for survivors who are seeking medical attention.
Important Information
Volunteers MUST be 18 years or older.
August SAC: Application deadline is June 1st
January SAC: Application deadline is November 1st
As a WOAR Volunteer Sexual Assault Counselor, you provide crucial support and advocacy to individuals who have experienced sexual violence through our 24/7 crisis hotline. In addition to supporting the 24-hour hotline, our Volunteer Sexual Assault Counselors advocate for victims/survivors who are seeking medical attention at Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) at 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124.
WOAR needs volunteers to staff our 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline to provide support:
- Days
- Nights
- Weekends
What is The Time Commitment?
Once you have been trained (we provide free training), we like our volunteers to commit to between 10-15 hours per month helping to staff our 24 Hour Sexual Assault Hotline.
Is Training Available?
Volunteers must participate in a 40-hour training course to become a Volunteer Sexual Assault Counselor. The course is in a group setting consisting of presentations, videos, readings, and role-playing. You will learn about the sexual violence continuum, court proceedings, the forensic rape exam, crisis counseling skills, and WOAR’s services. After the course, you will listen in on hotline calls before doing them on your own. All sessions must be attended. The training course is offered 2 times per year, on a first-come first-served basis and is limited to 25 people per course.
If you are a survivor who has received services at WOAR, please wait 2 years before applying to be a hotline volunteer.
Volunteer Sexual Assault Counselor courses offered:
- Winter session begins in January. Application deadline is November 1.
- Summer session begins in August. Application deadline is June 1.
Important Information About Volunteering with WOAR:
- Must 18 years or older to be a volunteer on the hotline.
- If you are a survivor who has received services at WOAR, we respectfully request that you wait 2 years before applying to be a hotline volunteer.
- Minimum 1 yearcommitment to volunteer with WOAR.
- Commit to a minimum of 6-8 hotline hours per month, including a minimum of 8 overnight hours every two months.
- Hotline shifts are evenings, overnights, and weekends.
- Sign up for volunteer shifts online is on a first come, first served basis.
- You must complete the training course before you can volunteer on the hotline.
- Hotline calls are taken from the volunteer’s home so you can attend to other tasks when you’re not on a call.
- Volunteers provide in-person crisis advocacy for victims and survivors at Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) during their hotline shifts.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a WOAR Volunteer! Please click the button below to sign up. You will be asked to upload your resume with the sign up form.
If you have questions about other volunteer opportunities, please contact Genet Arayaio at Genet@woar.org with the subject “Crisis Volunteer.”
