When someone experiences domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or another traumatic crime, the moments immediately following can be overwhelming. Survivors often face fear, uncertainty, and difficult decisions while trying to process what has happened to them. This is where our Crisis Response Advocates step in.
So, what is a Crisis Response Advocate? They are specially trained volunteers who provide trauma-informed support, information, and referrals to individuals affected by violence and abuse. Volunteer advocates work alongside our staff and serve as a critical point of contact for survivors seeking help at all hours of the day.
Volunteers answer calls from our 24/7 sexual assault support line, provide crisis intervention and emotional support, respond to hospitals when survivors need an advocate by their side, and help connect individuals with resources that promote safety, healing, and hope.
Our volunteers meet the need day and night. From July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, volunteers spent an incredible 2,607 hours on call, ensuring support was available whenever survivors needed it. In the last six months alone, volunteers answered 95 support line calls and spent 35 hours on the phone.
Their support extends beyond the support line. Over the last year, Crisis Response Advocate volunteers responded to local hospitals 41 times, supporting survivors during medical exams and other processes.
The strength of our volunteer program continues to grow thanks to dedicated community members who step forward and serve. Over the past year, 15 new volunteers joined the team, bringing the total to 25 and collectively contributing 578.5 hours of training to build necessary trauma-informed skills.
Our volunteers consistently speak about the power of simply being present. Victim Advocate, Brittany Holden, reflected on her time as a volunteer before she became a staff member, “I know firsthand how gratifying it can be to be one of those volunteers supporting survivors.” In moments of crisis, a caring presence can make all the difference. By listening, believing, and walking alongside survivors, our Crisis Response Advocates provide comfort and hope to those seeking help.
I know firsthand how gratifying it can be to be one of those volunteers supporting survivors.
— Brittany Holden, Victim Advocate
Behind every call answered, every hospital response, and every hour on call is a person seeking support.
The impact of our Crisis Response Advocate volunteers cannot be measured solely in numbers. It is measured in the survivors who found someone to listen, the individuals who discovered empowerment, and the community members who found support when they needed it most.
Discover how you can stand alongside survivors and support them when they need it most.
