Princeton NJ Non-Profit Announcements

Womanspace is Recruiting Volunteers to Join the Response Teams of Mercer County

Lawrenceville, NJ, August 8, 2024 – Womanspace, Inc. is seeking community members to train as volunteers for the Response Teams of Mercer County. These teams consist of highly trained and dedicated volunteers who meet with victim-survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence during their moments of crisis. The commitment and expertise of these advocates are essential in providing victim-survivors with the support and resources they critically need.

Role of Volunteer Advocates:
Volunteer Response Team advocates provide compassionate support and tangible resources to victim-survivors at difficult times. In cases of domestic violence, advocates meet victims at the police department, while in cases of sexual assault, advocates meet victims at the hospital. Advocates serve as unconditional champions of victim-survivors and offer information on resources for future self-advocacy. Our goal is to empower victim-survivors to make informed decisions that are best for their lives and families.

In 2023, Womanspace received 6,777 calls to our hotlines, and 364 victims received crisis assistance from a trained advocate. These numbers underscore the critical need for dedicated volunteers who can offer support in times of crisis. Nationally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience intimate partner physical violence, according to the CDC.

Domestic and sexual violence remain significant issues in Mercer County, as they are nationwide. Statistics show that sexual assault affects 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men during their lifetimes.

Anne Mavis, a Response Teams Advocate since 2019, shares her experience: "Supporting a survivor and watching them step into their empowerment is a gift. It is a privilege and an honor to sit with them, listen to their stories, and provide them with resources that can help guide them."

Applications are now being accepted, with the deadline to apply on September 24, 2024. Training begins on October 10, 2024.

To apply, fill out and submit the application.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about this opportunity, please email responseteamstraining@womanspace.org
Or you can call Varonda Kendrick at 609.394.0136 ext 210

For information on agency events and updates, follow Womanspace on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT WOMANSPACE
Founded in 1977, Womanspace is a leading nonprofit organization serving the greater Mercer County area and the state of New Jersey by providing a comprehensive array of emergency and follow-up services to individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Womanspace is dedicated to improving the quality of life for victims, survivors, and their families. Bilingual services and programs include 24/7 crisis intervention, safe, short-term emergency shelter, short and long-term transitional housing, individual counseling and therapeutic support groups for adults and children, court advocacy and the 24/7 crisis hotline 609-394-9000. Womanspace also operates the 24/7 New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline 800-572-SAFE and the 24/7 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Texting Hotline 609-619-1888. To learn more about Womanspace please visit www.womanspace.org.