Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us.
Without the support of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, abilities, talents, and time availability, we would be unable to advance our mission to end violence in our community. By having individuals who are passionate about being a part of the solution, you help us reach those we may not have otherwise due to limited staffing and funding.
Valley Crisis Center has a long history of encouraging volunteers to contribute to our success.
A Direct Service Volunteer is someone who has completed the required 80 Hour training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and are certified to work with survivors on a confidential level.
These volunteers can help with the following roles:
For a Direct Service Volunteer to work with survivors of Human Trafficking, an additional 40-Hour training is required.
An Indirect Service Volunteer is someone who has not completed the necessary training to work with survivors but has gotten the basic overview training on Valley Crisis Center, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking.
These volunteers are equally important to the success of Valley Crisis Center’s mission by supporting with the following roles:
Valley Crisis Center’s has the following requirements for all levels of volunteering:
In addition to the requirements above, a Direct Service Volunteer must have:
In addition to the above, an Indirect Service Volunteer must have:
Below you will find a basic description of current available volunteer opportunities. These require volunteers to hold at least the Domestic Violence Certificate Training. Those holding the Domestic Violence Certificate can work with survivors of intimate partner violence only. When the Sexual Assault Certification Training becomes available, current volunteers will be provided information on attending.
Crisis Counselors are typically stationed at Valley Crisis Center’s main office, however, there are also hybrid and remote availabilities. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
Legal Aides are stationed at Valley Crisis Center’s office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
Office Aides are stationed at Valley Crisis Center’s office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
Some duties of the Office Aide may be unavailable if volunteers do not have the Sexual Assault Certification.
Peer Counselors are stationed at Valley Crisis Center’s office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
Support Group Facilitators are stationed at Valley Crisis Center’s office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
Below you will find a basic description of current available indirect volunteer opportunities. These opportunities only require the basic 101 training.
The Fundraising Aide is a hybrid opportunity that spends time both at Valley Crisis Center’s main office and out and about in the community. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
The General Program Aide is a hybrid opportunity at either Valley Crisis Center’s main office or safe house. This opportunity mainly focuses on one or more of the following interests:
This opportunity depends on the interest and skills of the volunteer, and they are only asked to assist in opportunities they wish.
The Outreach Aide is a hybrid opportunity that spends time both at Valley Crisis Center’s main office and out and about in the community. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
The Social Media Content Creator opportunity can be done remotely or in-person at Valley Crisis Center’s office during business hours. This volunteer opportunity looks like:
If you can picture yourself in one of the opportunities above, be sure to complete the Volunteer Interest form below!
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Please complete the Volunteer Interest Form below. An advocate from Valley Crisis Center will reach out to you when there are availabilities in the volunteer program with further instructions.
Online forms not your thing? No worries, stop by our office at 812 W. 18th Street, Merced CA 95340 to complete a paper one instead.
Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below. If your question is not answered, please call us at (209) 725-7900 and ask for Cesilie.
Calling not your thing? You can reach us on our social media accounts too!
Yes, you can volunteer during the school year and pause your volunteering when you go home on breaks.
Yes! We try to work with your schedule as your time is valuable and being donated to us. Please note that certain roles are limited to the type of training you have. After hours or weekends may require the 40-Hour Human Trafficking Training.
Yes, but we do encourage that survivors delay volunteering for 6 – 12 months after experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking. Working with other survivors can be triggering and we believe that survivors need ample time to heal. If you have questions on this policy, please call us at (209) 725-7900.
Please call us at (209) 725-7900 for questions regarding completing internship hours with our organization.
Volunteer Opportunities for our safe house program and the Date Entry Aide are currently not listed as volunteers are required to hold all three certificates. When these trainings become available, these opportunities will be opened.
Valley Crisis Center, in partnership with Mountain Crisis Services in Mariposa County typically hold two trainings a year. When a training is available, information will be made available on this page.
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